How big tourist sites prepare for a funny season

• The coronavirus crisis and containment plunged the economy, especially tourism, into the crisis.
• Puy du Fou, Lascaux and the Pic du Midi are preparing to open, while respecting health standards, in particular “social distancing”, which is not easy to implement.
• The three sites have their own issues but share one observation: the season promises to be more than mediocre.

It is official, since the Prime Minister said it, this Thursday. "The French will be able to go on vacation to France in July and August", launched Edouard Philippe, during the presentation of the support plan for the tourism sector. Subject however to “possible very localized restrictions” depending on the evolution of the coronavirus epidemic…

Vendée, like the other departments, hopes not to be affected. This Thursday, nearly 10,000 people had signed a petition launched two days earlier to demand "the next opening" of Puy du Fou, at the initiative of the local and regional political world. Nicolas de Villiers, president of the second theme park in France in terms of attendance (2.3 million visitors in 2019), behind Disneyland Paris, is counting on the date of June 2 to start the season. The site was originally scheduled to open on April 4. But, like everywhere, the Covid-19 and the two months of confinement completely upset the plans.

A petition requests the reopening of Puy du Fou https://t.co/DKxBLVjic0

Another example in Dordogne, in the caves of Lascaux. "We are waiting for the opening date of the sites that the government will propose at the end of May-beginning of June, and from there, the time to do everything, we should be able to reopen at the end of June-beginning of July", hopes André Barbé, director general of the prehistoric emblem of Périgord which, all sites combined, attracts "more than 550,000 visitors per year".

No seasonal and winter hours at Pic du Midi

Even further south, at 2,877 meters above sea level, the Pic du Midi ticked July 4 for its start date, instead of early June. "Usually, in the summer, we go from around sixty employees to 85," explains director Daniel Soucaze des Soucaze, who in 2019 saw 140,000 people climb to the Pyrenean scientific observatory. But this year, we will not hire the usual 20 seasonal workers. And we are going to stay in winter hours, with eight opening hours a day instead of twelve. The six beautiful concerts that were planned should also be forgotten. "

Masks, hydroalcoholic gel, disinfectant ... All sites must comply with the uses of the "next world", haunted by the Covid-19. But the famous "social distancing" remains the most restrictive novelty for a place supposed to accommodate (many) people.

Fresh snow this morning beyond about 2300m -3 to 2800m #pyrenees 📷 @picdumidi pic.twitter.com/H2Xp5chrqP

Even if Nicolas de Villiers relativizes: “The State mentioned the surface of 4 square meters per person: on Puy du Fou, even during peak periods, our visitors have on average between 40 and 50 square meters per person, in theory . With us, it is therefore multiplied by ten, it is important that visitors know it and can be serene. We will increase the number of shows to ensure that our stands are never full, there will always be a distance between the groups. "

The visit puzzle

Car parks, restaurants ... The Vendée site has also planned an adaptation in these areas, much heavier to adopt in confined spaces. New detour via Lascaux, via André Barbé:

“The size of the groups for the visits will probably have to be reduced by 30 to 50%. This means that groups normally made up of 36 to 40 people will increase to 15-20 people. We will be on notions of VIP visits, with a great experience on the life of cavemen. But at the same time, elements will be removed from the route, such as the digital tablet and certainly the cinema which should remain closed. The guided tour with a mediator will last a total of 1:30 to 1:45, compared to just over 3 hours currently on average. "

At the Pic du Midi, a cable car leads to the summit those who do not have the courage or the possibility to go there on foot. In other words, the vast majority of visitors. “We usually bring up 45 people per cabin, explains Daniel Soucaze from Les Soucaze. We will see with the state services if we go to half or a third of the capacity. "

Another concern: the accommodation, which was already full for the entire 2020 season and was starting to fill up well for the summer of 2021. To spend the night a little closer to the stars, you have to book a long time in advance. “We are very constrained, admits the director. We can accommodate 27 people per night in 15 former scientific rooms of approximately 8 square meters. Should breakfast be served in the rooms? We will find solutions, as for the sanitary parts and showers, which are common. "

The sanctuary of Lourdes reopens its doors to pilgrims this Saturday https://t.co/4Tnybsee7z via @ 20minutes pic.twitter.com/WL548OmYRJ

From one site to another, the issues differ, but common questions arise. Will potential tourists dare to go to frequented places? Who can come and visit them? At the Pic du Midi for example, the clientele is made up of 30% foreigners, who often gain altitude after a spiritual stopover in Lourdes.

Better not to count on them in 2020, here as elsewhere. “We are going to halve the number of visitors, calculates André Barbé, at Lascaux. Which means a white year economically. "The speech is similar to Puy du Fou:" We know that we are going to live a very disaster season, "says Nicolas de Villiers.

Limit breakage, until 2021

Also, in Vendée as in Périgord or in Bigorre, the watchword is the same: limit the breakage, to better start again in 2021. Finally, if all goes well. "We hope that there will be no relapse of the pandemic, loose Daniel Soucaze des Soucaze. Because it would be catastrophic. »A statement valid at high altitude, as in the bocage or in caves.

Society

Deconfinement: "The French will be able to go on vacation to France in July and August", announces Edouard Philippe

Economy

Deconfinement on the French Riviera: In the red, the still closed hotels are looking for a way out of the crisis for the summer

• Deconfinement
• Aquitaine
• Bordeaux
• Toulouse
• Nantes