Prime Minister Jean Castex has advised the French not to travel to Catalonia, a region of Spain which is experiencing a strong resumption of the coronavirus epidemic. But there, the tourists already present and whom Europe 1 interviewed do not show much concern and intend to end their holidays calmly.

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Prime Minister Jean Castex strongly advises all French people to travel to Catalonia, which is experiencing a resumption of the coronavirus epidemic. This is not a formal ban, even if his words are hardly encouraging for tourism professionals on the other side of the Pyrenees, and already hard hit by the health crisis. But the few French people who are already on vacation in Barcelona do not seem particularly worried by this announcement.

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Tourists determined to continue their vacation

"It doesn't worry me at all. The children are having a great time, we continue to live normally, we have no reason to leave earlier," Souria explains to Europe 1. This Frenchwoman therefore plans to stay an extra week. in Barcelona and enjoy the beach. Originally from Perpignan, she has been living since the beginning of July in a friend's apartment in the city center, with her children and her sister Katia. The Prime Minister's recommendations do not change their vacation. "The Spaniards respect barrier gestures enormously. We wear masks in town, and even at the beach," explains Katia.

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"I am more afraid while walking on the main avenues in France"

However, tourists do not rush. For the French who made the trip, the city is all the more pleasant. Most holidaymakers also feel safe. Lying on his towel in the sand, Jean-Baptiste came from Strasbourg with friends. "I am more afraid while walking on the main avenues in France than in Barcelona," he says.

For Barcelona tourism professionals, however, Jean Castex's recommendation sounds like a coup de grace. The season was already announced to be complicated with only 20% of hotels open, it now seems completely lost.