Covid and tourism: "No wave of cancellations, but a slowdown on reservations"

INTERVIEW

What first assessment for the tourism sector? While health restrictions and the progression of the Delta variant of the coronavirus make the success of the summer uncertain, professionals note that the figures for July are rather good. Invited on Wednesday from Europe 1, Michel Durrieu, managing director of Huttopia international, believes that it will be "difficult this year to make a quick assessment" at mid-season. On the other hand, several observations can already be underlined, he adds, such as that of the fall in reservations by foreign tourists.

While the new law on anti-Covid measures, including the controversial extension of the health pass, will come into force on August 9, the implementation of this famous pass is already being organized in vacation spots.

"We are in the process of putting it in place slowly, without forecasts, it's complicated", testifies Michel Durrieu. 

"Less spontaneity" in consumption

Currently, specifies the guest from Europe 1, "we are not having a wave of cancellations, but we are really slowing down on reservations, and in particular on reservations from Europeans who were starting to come back quite a bit. significant ".

This summer, "the English couldn't come", but the Dutch and the Belgians "came back quite significantly". 

In addition, the double health and economic crisis also causes "difficulties in the catering and hotel industry to hire staff", but also among the French, "who for some have economic difficulties".

This drop in purchasing power, "we are starting to feel it on consumption," assures Michel Durrieu.

And the uncertainty created by the restrictive measures, to which are added the economic difficulties, mean that there is "a little less spontaneity" in terms of consumption. 

Very bad weather

And as if that were not enough, tourism professionals had to deal with catastrophic weather in July.

"It rained 16 days against 7 last year," recalls Michel Durrieu.

However, this capricious weather has a strong influence on attendance, while people are reserving more and more at the last minute. 

Still, all is not negative this summer.

For example, "camping is on a strong trend, and Gîtes de France are doing perfectly well".

And for the rest, Michel Durrieu insists on the importance of vaccination.

"Tourism will not really be able to restart until we have a high vaccination rate," he assures us.

And to conclude, optimistic: "In the coming months, we will see this restart, we will have to support it."