REPORTAGE
Like so many other French tourist areas, Lourdes, a traditional place of religious pilgrimages, is practically at a standstill due to the health measures put in place to fight against the coronavirus epidemic. No less than 130 souvenir shops are located around the sanctuary. While traveling in the town, Monday, the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, saw the extent of the crisis, and took the opportunity to announce that new sectors of activity, including souvenir shops and piety, would benefit from exemption from charges and partial unemployment. This measure was greeted with relief by local traders, but is not enough to reassure them.
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Since the end of confinement, many businesses have not reopened. And even among those who can work, morale is at its lowest, confirms Claudine Aubert, who provides "a blank year, a blank season". "Getting up in the morning knowing that we are going to make 15% of our turnover is difficult. We have no more staff, we do nineteen hours in a row for not much", confides the shopkeeper at microphone from Europe 1.
"This year is going to be a year zero"
For David Da Carpene, who has only been able to reopen one of his two confectionery shops, the future is very uncertain. "Of the two establishments, I only have one which is open, and which runs between 350 and 400 euros per day, whereas normally, between the two establishments, we drive between 3,500 and 4,000 per day", explains t he, too, anticipating "a catastrophic situation". "This year is going to be a zero year for me, that is to say zero salary, absolutely nothing at the end of the year", he worries, before wondering: "How are you? we spend this winter? "
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And if the government announcements, and the possibility of obtaining aid of 1,000 euros plus 10,000 euros for rents at least until Easter, are greeted with relief, many traders wonder if this will be enough. And if the pilgrims, in particular foreigners, will be there next spring.