We have been active since the reopening of the Bretonnière campsite in Vendée. - DP / 20 minutes

  • Since Tuesday, campsites have been allowed to reopen.
  • 20 Minutes went, Wednesday morning, to a campsite in Vendée to take stock with the managers on the sanitary measures implemented this summer.

It's been official for a week, the fiesta boom boom, dear to the series (and the chain) "Camping Paradis", will make the tourists at the Bretonnière campsite in Saint-Julien-des-Landes, young, wiggle well town near the Vendée coast. And it's a big relief for the owners Aline and Régis. They had had a "good feeling" for two or three weeks. The speech by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe last Thursday ended the suspense and reassured the 8,000 other campsite owners in France.

Since mid-March and the start of confinement, "it's been psychologically hard because we were afraid of not opening at all this year," admits Régis. Aline speaks of "a blues blues in April-May". The couple live on the site. "We work all year round to open ..." breathes Régis. During confinement, the phone stopped ringing. Reservation cancellations have followed. "Some mornings, there were ten cancellations at the same time that were displayed on my computer ..." remembers Aline. For fifteen days, the telephone bell has been ringing again.

Still shy reservations

And above all, since Tuesday, the campsite has reopened its doors. Attendance is necessarily still low. Five or six young people from Deux-Sèvres have reserved a mobile home for a few days. A grandfather enjoys the sun with his grandson. 30% of rentals (165 pitches, of which a hundred are bare) are booked in July (80% are in other years around the same time), 40% in August (compared to 100% usually). "We are full from mid-July to mid-August," comments Régis. The coming days will be decisive. Good news, the Dutch, loyal to Bretonnière, are allowed to come to France this summer.

Régis and Aline, the managers of La Bretonnière campsite. - DP / 20 minutes

In the meantime, a protocol for sanitary measures has been advocated by the National Federation of Outdoor Hotels. Those responsible for the Bretonnière did not skimp on the means, even if "we do not want the campsite to be anxiety-provoking and recall confinement", hopes Régis.

Two additional employees due to sanitary measures

Small tour of the 6 ha with trees. Markings on the ground (“Keep 1 m away”) at the reception and at the bar, around fifteen dispensers of hydroalcoholic gel scattered where tourists are likely to meet most often, plexiglass at the snack bar and at the reception… New : an application allows instant communication between the managers of the campsite and the customers, who is supposed to avoid too many round trips to reception and a few human contacts that are always at risk. "An advantage for logistics", according to Régis, and above all a means of communication which is very timely given the health context.

One of the Vendée campsite pools. - DP / 20 minutes

Two more people were also recruited this summer. One to enforce social distancing in the two aquatic areas: a bather for 4 m2, or 28 to 30 customers per pool. At the peak of attendance, there can be 80 tourists in a swimming pool. For deckchairs, a virucidal product will be available. "We want to empower customers," says Aline. It's up to them to clean up when they leave their deckchair… ”

Uncertainty for the children's club

Another employee enlisted to fight against the coronavirus: "a kind of sanitary pee". Several employees, all equipped with masks or visors, will turn from morning to evening to clean sinks, toilets and showers as tourists pass. For evenings, "no quibbles and checks with customers". The tables will be well spaced. A tarp may even be installed in front of the singers so that the spectators are safe… from the postilions.

A great uncertainty reigns over the holding of children's clubs from 6 years old and up to 12 years old. "We want to open, but we are waiting for the official instructions," recognizes Régis. The two leaders are in the starting blocks.

"We had no hesitation in coming to the campsite," says Léa, a young tourist, on vacation with several friends. And then we are so used to social distancing, hand cleaning etc. It doesn't change us too much, but we are really in the holiday spirit. »In the fiesta boom boom?

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  • Tourism
  • Camping
  • Deconfinement
  • Society