INTERVIEW
It is one of the most touristic destinations in France, which has suffered for two months now from a reduced activity of heartache due to the coronavirus: while the deconfinement begins in the whole country, Corsica is preparing for to her the summer "to save what can be of the season", wants to believe Gilles Simeoni. On Europe 1, Friday noon, the president of the Executive Council of Corsica defended tests imposed on all arrivals on the island of Beauty from June 23.
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This policy of preventive tests on arrival in Corsica this summer "is part of the construction of an attractive and secure tourist offer in terms of health", assures Gilles Simeoni, according to whom "the equation is different in Corsica compared to other very touristy regions "such as the Côte d'Azur, the Aquitaine coast or Brittany.
Three reasons for this: "We have an imperative need for tourism, which represents 30% of GDP against 7% for the whole of France, we are an island and there are flows of populations in Corsica, in summer, which have nothing to do in proportion to what is happening elsewhere on the continent: there are 310,000 people who live in Corsica, while there are between 1.5 and 1.7 million people on the island for two months of July and August. "
Double imperative
The Corsican authorities are now facing a double challenge, while 67 people have died on the island since the beginning of March: "If we take no precautions, we risk finding ourselves in an unmanageable health situation, and on the other hand, we want to welcome tourists at all costs this summer, "underlines Gilles Simeoni.
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At the microphone of Pierre de Vilno and Raphaëlle Duchemin, the president of the Executive Council of Corsica presented the method he intended to apply to create a "shock of confidence": "It starts with air and sea transport, with measures like barrier gestures, masks, total security ", he explains. "Tourism professionals have a vocation to engage in a certification process so that people know that when they arrive in Corsica, they will spend a peaceful vacation. (…) The idea is also that what we offer is done in a secure context. "
"Pleasant quarantine"
A reassuring context, but restrictive measures: "People tell us that if they test positive, they will have to cancel their vacation. This is the rule of thumb! If you have symptoms, you should test yourself and if you is positive, we have to confine ourselves, "recalls Gilles Simeoni. "The idea is to do a test, knowing that there will be false negatives, with people who may be contaminated and contaminating. If they have symptoms in Corsica, they will be tested. they are positive, we have planned with the professionals to provide them with tourist offers equivalent to those they will have ordered ", such as hotel rooms," where they can stay confined and spend the rest of their holidays ", for a "pleasant quarantine".