Tours (AFP)

Reservations by Asian or European visitors for the castles of the Loire should multiply for sunny days, but nothing is moving and the tourism sector is worried about the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic.

"There is an obvious impact on visitors from China, Taiwan and South Korea. And also on the very large Italian clientele," explains Jean d'Haussonville, the general manager of the Domaine national de Chambord (Loir- and-dear).

Since the start of the epidemic, attendance at the castle has dropped by two thirds for these three Asian countries. But don't panic yet, the share of this international clientele remains moderate in the Center-Loire Valley.

In the only French region still spared from coronavirus, only 30% of tourists come from abroad. In Chambord in 2019, for example, only 25,000 Chinese, 8,000 to 10,000 Taiwanese, and as many South Koreans have indeed visited François I's castle, out of the 1.1 million visitors.

"Since the beginning of the year, the attendance is always increasing. But, we are staying in the little winter months, and it is obvious that the year will be difficult", recognizes however Mr. d'Haussonville.

Same observation on the side of Amboise (Indre-et-Loire): "The Clos-Lucé does not feel any significant consequences", says one to the castle of Leonardo da Vinci. Attendance in February 2020 was even higher compared to February 2019.

"There is simply a certain decline in Asian attendance. However, the share of attendance by Chinese nationals being 0.4% in 2019 (2% for all Asian countries), the decrease in their arrivals n 'has not a big impact on the general attendance ", relativizes a spokesperson.

However, the chateau recently recorded cancellations from French and foreign school groups. Groups of Italian, Chinese and Japanese tourists have also already canceled.

"Professionals who cancel, this is never a sign of optimism", worries Jean d'Haussonville, who recalls however that 85% of visitors to Chambord come from France and the European Union.

"The question for us is the effect on European customers," he warns. "If visitors from the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and the Benelux can no longer circulate, there, we will feel the effect."

If the castles still bathe in a kind of Loire sweetness, the region's restaurateurs are more frankly worried.

- Target the French -

"Bookings from abroad should arrive now, for the next three months. Nothing happens when we should be in full swing," laments Sabine Ferrand, the regional president of the Union of Trades and Industries of the hotel industry (Umih), the main organization in the sector.

"I, who work a lot with China, Taiwan and Japan, have had 28 buses canceled," says the restaurateur from Saint-Laurent-Nouan, near Chambord. "It worries me, it's like in 2015 after the attacks. It is less brutal, but we have cancellations every day. I am trying to open my mailbox."

"If it affects European customers, it will be serious," she also warns. The sector, which had done a lot in recent years to promote its territory abroad, must quickly change targets.

According to the president of the region, the Center-Val de Loire must now activate its "plan B" and refocus on France. "The deployment of our communication to these countries (from Asia, note) will not be done as planned. We will postpone it," said AFP François Bonneau.

"We will rather work on an intensification towards national targets, in particular Ile-de-France", reveals the elected official, who recalls that tourism in the Loire Valley "is not centrally international tourism", with around 70% of French visitors.

"If we lose half of the rest (around 15% Editor's note), it increases our capacity at the national level", he prefers to be positive. "But you have to be there to provide the offer." "If foreigners can no longer come, the French will no longer be able to go abroad. We can get them," he hopes.

"It is within our reach," insists Mr. Bonneau. "Especially since we are on trend tourism: it is not installing your beach towel and drinking cold."

© 2020 AFP