What's new: what do we do for the holidays?

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By: Frédéric Couteau Follow

Publicity

It is Le Parisien who asks this question on the first page.

"  'What do we do for the holidays?' Usually in May, most of us are able to respond. Not this year , notes Le Parisien. The health crisis has showered our plans and has shaken up the tourism sector, which has been shutdown for two months. Like bars and restaurants, industry professionals wait to know when and under what conditions they can take over. While the government is meeting today an inter-ministerial committee on the subject, Brussels, for its part, yesterday encouraged the 27 countries of the Union to reopen their internal borders to save the summer holidays of millions of Europeans and prevent an economic sinking.  "

In the meantime, it's a big blur, Le Parisien points out again : "  Holidays abroad? Better not to count on it too much, even in border countries. Spain, for example, has just announced the establishment of a quarantine for outside visitors as long as the state of health emergency in the country continues. The horizon of the holidays in France is him, barred by a mountain of uncertainties , the newspaper notes. The beaches ? After two months of sleep, the first reopen in Brittany or the Pays de la Loire, but it is forbidden for the moment to bask in the sun. Going to the Côte d'Azur? Provided that the traffic restrictions the famous radius of 100 km around the home are lifted. As for camping or club holidays, it is hard to imagine how the rules of physical distance could be respected, as in swimming pools. Under these conditions, the rental of tourist accommodation promises to be the big winner of the summer.  "

World tourism at half mast

Overall, says Le Figaro , “  Travel could drop by 78% this year (…): collateral victim of the coronavirus pandemic, global tourism has entered a period of slump of unknown duration. The sector represents 10% of the planet's GDP and between 12 and 13% of jobs. For years, it has been flying from record to record, driven by the growth of a middle class, in China in particular, which wants to travel.  "

But the 19-Covid happened ... And '  travel restrictions related to the pandemic already have a colossal impact on the whole sector around the world, leading Le Figaro: and this both in the country '' where tourists leave (tour operators and travel agencies see their activity reduced to nothing) and in those of destinations (hoteliers, restaurateurs, excursionists and guides no longer have any income). In this context, France is doubly penalized.  "

A green pass for Corsica?

Example, in Corsica ... "  What flight for the season?  Asks Corse-Matin on the first page.

“  In the uncertainty of the evolution of the epidemic and of government decisions, professionals find it difficult to find a path between health security and the resumption of tourist activity.  "

Gilles Simeoni, the president of the local executive council, wishes that the vacationers present a negative screening certificate to the Covid-19 of less than a week before embarking for the Island of Beauty. A certificate, called green pass , which sparked the controversy. "  The idea," adds Corse-Matin, "is to protect the island, whose hospitals have limited capacity, and to present it as a secure destination. But for many professionals, this message intended for tourists is rather that of a 'state in casa' (stay at home), crippling.  "

So, “  whether or not they succeed in saving a semblance of the season, tourism professionals today, Thursday, are riveted on Paris, still points Corse-Matin, where the government must present a roadmap and the first concrete measures of a national recovery plan. Elected officials and economic players are waiting for announcements specific to Corsica, an island whose economy depends on more than 30% of tourism and where 20% of the population already lives below the poverty line.  "

Restorers' anxiety

Finally, at the national level, if there is one sector particularly affected, it is that of catering ...

"  The great restaurant blues  ", headlines La Croix . “  The 160,000 restaurants in France had to close at midnight on March 14, four hours after hearing the Prime Minister's announcement.  It was a shock ... Since then, the doors have remained closed. “  Around 400,000 employees are now partially unemployed in traditional catering. And 800,000 for the entire sector of cafes, hotels and restaurants. (…) The date of possible reopening of establishments should not be known until the end of May, La Croix point , and many questions are worrying restaurateurs. Starting with the desire to return from customers. But also the new sanitary standards under development and which risk, in view of the separation of tables by at least one meter, to reduce their capacity up to two thirds. Faced with these challenges, everyone is convinced: they will have to invent a new way of practicing their profession-passion. "

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