The thermal baths should be able to reopen, like the terraces, on May 19.

Europe 1 went to the most important spa in the Vosges, in Bains-les-Bains, where the thermal baths teams and all the traders are preparing for the reopening which, they hope, will turn the page after a year. difficult.

REPORTAGE

One after the other, the taps are opened by the technicians, Sébastien and Romain.

"There, we do all the tests of the valves, for example, the pumps, the sensors, the heating control, the chemical treatment. All that!"

In France, the thermal baths have the right to reopen on May 19.

In Bains-les-Bains in the Vosges (Vôge-les-Bains), it will be the 24th, time to analyze all the bacteriological samples, explains the boss, Jean-Michel Masset.

"You don't just press a button to get everything going, it takes roughly three weeks."

>> LIVE -

Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Saturday, May 8

Resumption of reservations after a black year

Since the reopening was announced, bookings are picking up again. "The phone rings and rings again. It's a very good thing and we are optimistic for the future," says the boss. The opportunity, finally, to turn the page of a dark year ... "I know that we were at 40% of the overall activity that we can generate in terms of turnover, knowing that the hydrotherapy, our sector, generates between 8 million and 10 million economic benefits ", specifies Maxime Thibaut, who heads the Tourist Office of Bains-les-Bains.

The spa welcomes 500 curists every day in normal times, and has 200 furnished apartments.

"In terms of trade, it was very, very hard because it is still a contribution of more or less 30% of additional activity", laments Yves Devouge, who heads the Intermarché of the town.

"We use seasonal workers and unfortunately, these seasonal workers were not able to join our team."

CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS

> Covid-19: is there really a risk of contamination outside?

> Coronavirus: why can a PCR test be positive one month after infection?

> Are private parties really prohibited with the curfew?

> The English variant would cause slightly different symptoms

> Audio, webcams ... When technology adapts to teleworking

But in two weeks, the spa will finally see the curists return, as well as the seasonal ones. The more than 100 spas in France have been closed since October 30. According to the National Council of thermal establishments, the latter suffered a drop in attendance of 67%, an estimated loss of 110 million euros in their revenues.