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Covid-19: when can we (re) travel normally?

2020-09-27T05:38:50.575Z


The coronavirus crisis has put and still brings a good part of the tourism sector to a halt. And places the candidates for the trip in front of a


And if we set off again on holiday?

We always have an irresistible desire to extend the summer, on the occasion of the All Saints holidays for example, from October 19 to November 4.

But let's not dream too much.

Considering a trip to Europe or further afield in the world remains very complicated as the Covid-19 pandemic is experiencing a worrying rebound and new health constraints have just been taken by the government.

"We must draw a line on foreign travel at least until the end of this year," says Mélanie Lemarchand, founder and director of Lidl Voyages.

We hope for a start of recovery from January 2021 for a return perhaps to normal from summer 2021 for medium-haul destinations, to Europe or Mediterranean countries, but not before the end of 2021 for the long haul.

The USA, Canada and most countries in Asia, destinations which are booked 6 to 8 months in advance, remain closed to tourists and will remain so for a long time.

"

93 countries keep their borders closed

It will therefore be necessary to show a lot of patience before being able to resume the path towards distant countries.

The UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) still listed, in its latest report published on September 10, 93 countries around the world keeping their borders completely closed to foreign vacationers.

All the same, affording a stay in Europe remains possible from France, but that supposes a good dose of organization… on a very limited choice of destinations.

For example, it is impossible to imagine a getaway to London since England has once again imposed quarantine on French travelers since mid-August.

Other countries have recently tightened up their reception conditions for residents of regions classified as "enhanced alert zones", such as Ile-de-France.

This is the case of Germany or Belgium with compulsory quarantine until the presentation of a negative test.

The destinations without restrictions can be counted on the finger of one hand: Italy, Croatia or Spain, where the health situation in certain regions, however, calls for very great caution.

The other problem is the dearth of offers for all-inclusive stays.

"There is hardly anything left to sell for the French market because the tour operators have completely withdrawn from the market and have shut down most of their winter programs," regrets Michel-Yves Labbé, founder of Partir Demain , an ultra-last minute travel sales application.

However, there are still great opportunities.

It's time to go to Venice, where the Asian or American clientele is not there, and where hotel rooms can be negotiated at only 100 euros a night!

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Professionals forced to be ultra-flexible

Tourism professionals whose catalog has offers in France are obviously less affected.

The months of July and August were less catastrophic than expected, thanks to a French clientele who overwhelmingly traveled to France.

“This will continue this winter but we all have an obligation to adapt by becoming ultra-flexible to reassure customers,” continues Mélanie Lemarchand.

The last minute has become a classic method of reservation and, to get by, you have to offer possible cancellations on “d-2” free of charge in the event that it is impossible to leave because of the virus.

"

For Jean Pochoy, Deputy Managing Director of Azureva, a network of residences and holiday villages in France, the next school holidays will be lived under "a new normal".

“This summer's vacationers have shown great discipline vis-à-vis the health protocols imposed and hardly compatible with a“ vacation ”spirit, he observes.

They accepted these constraints well, got used to wearing a mask and using the hydroalcoholic gel to use without stopping.

They should logically continue to do so for the holidays to come.

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However, with a map of the circulation of the virus changing very quickly, this "new normal" comes up against the reality of the classification differentiated by geographical area according to the health situation.

Very difficult, if not impossible, to consider for example today going to spend a few days in Marseille or Aix-en-Provence, two cities affected by the classification in "maximum alert zone" and whose bars and restaurants must remain closed for two weeks.

Source: leparis

All life articles on 2020-09-27

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