- The coronavirus epidemic continues to rage but France, like most countries, is preparing for its gradual deconfinement.
- The vast majority of borders are closed worldwide. In Europe and within the Schengen area, they remain closed until June 15 at least, including for France.
- Airlines are in great pain. Health measures could drive up the price of airline tickets. The resumption of international flights is unknown.
- In France, the prospects for summer holidays will be known on June 2. Even if Emmanuel Macron mentioned the possibility of moving to Europe, we are moving towards a French-French summer season.
- In Europe, Italy and Spain seem to follow the same path of domestic tourism in July August. Greece is betting on a more open summer season.
- Postponements or reimbursements of planned stays, assets valid for 18 months ... French travelers are expecting.
- World tourism plunges. The least unfavorable scenario of the World Tourism Organization bets on a reopening of the borders and the relaxation of travel restrictions in early July.
May 8
Mont-Saint-Michel can be visited on Monday
Mont-Saint-Michel is accessible from May 11, but access to the abbey remains prohibited. Antonio GAUDENCIO
Mont-Saint-Michel announces a "resumption of effective activity" from Monday, May 11, as part of the gradual deconfinement, which provides for the reopening of shops and hotels, but access to the abbey will remain closed.
Among the measures, a single direction of traffic becomes the rule in the village of Mont, in order to avoid crossings of people going up or down.
Read also: Mont-Saint-Michel begins its deconfinement this Monday
May 7
Georgia to welcome tourists in July
Prime Minister Guiorgui Gakharia announced his program to relax coronavirus control measures in Georgia from May 11, saying the country will reopen its borders to foreign tourists in July. Domestic tourism will resume "mid-June," he said. The former Soviet Republic has become a popular tourist destination in recent years: in 2019, the country welcomed nine million visitors, compared to 4.7 million in 2012.
Georgia has so far registered only 615 cases of coronavirus and nine deaths, one of the lowest rates in Europe.
Read also: Georgia, a little-known nugget from the Caucasus
Acropolis of Athens to reopen in Greece
Greece continues to believe in a tourist season this summer. Archaeological sites, including the Acropolis of Athens, reopen on May 18.
The deconfinement started on May 4 in Greece. The Acropolis of Athens and all archaeological sites in the country will reopen on May 18, the government said. Museums must welcome the public from June 15. Social distancing measures will be imposed as well as a limited number of visitors allowed to enter the sites and museums at the same time.
Less affected than its European partners, Greece has so far deplored 148 dead and 2,663 cases of Covid-19.
Read also: Coronavirus and tourism: Greece wants to bet on summer holidays
May 6
In Spain, great caution on the beach and in restaurants
Spain, hard hit by the coronavirus, is starting a very progressive deconfinement. The country, which keeps its borders closed, seems to be moving towards essentially national tourism this summer, but accompanied by very restrictive measures. The city of Gandía, in the south-east, for example, plans to recruit supervisors, or even ban children from the beach at certain times to enforce social distancing. The restaurant terraces will be enlarged and the menus can be viewed on a smartphone, instead of going from hand to hand. The RoomMate Hotels chain provides mats impregnated with bleach to disinfect the soles and wheels of suitcases when customers arrive, subjected to a temperature test and equipped with masks, gel and gloves.
Read also: Summer vacation and coronavirus: in Spain, on the abandoned beach
Baltic states reopen common borders
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will reopen their common borders as of May 15. A first since the start of confinement within the European Union. Most member countries continue to impose entry restrictions. However, travelers from other countries will continue to be kept in solitary confinement for 14 days in these countries.
In China, encouraging signs of a recovery in tourism
Nearly 115 million trips were made during the May 1 holiday in China. A figure is higher than expected. Tour operators and authorities see this as a reason for hope as the tourism sector is one of the hardest hit by the epidemic that emerged in central China in December.
Tuesday, May 5
In the United States, an option to fly without a neighbor
The American airline Frontier now offers travelers to pay $ 39 to ensure that the seat next to them remains vacant. This option, called "More Room" and offered until August 31, is in addition to the sanitary measures already in place, such as wearing a mandatory mask for all.
Read also: In Phoenix, Trump calls to turn the page and "open" the economy
In Bavaria, reopening of hotels and restaurants at the end of May
The largest state in Germany has announced the reopening of its restaurants on May 25. "We think it is acceptable to open restaurants," said head of regional government Markus Söder, going against Berlin's decisions. Restrictions will have to be applied, such as occupying a table in two or the creation of specific zones for families. Hotels and tourist spots can reopen from May 30.
Read also: Coronavirus: Bavaria to reopen restaurants
French summer vacation: " We'll know in early June" (Macron)
"We will stay between Europeans" , for the summer holidays also specifies Emmanuel Macron, even if he did not exclude that the perimeter of authorized trips is ultimately limited to France.
SEE ALSO - Emmanuel Macron: "It is still too early to tell you if we can have a summer vacation".
"Harmonized rules" to restart tourism in Europe
The European institutions are working on "finalized and harmonized rules at European level" to support this summer a tourism sector hit by the health crisis, said the European Commissioner in charge of the Internal Market Thierry Breton. These "guidelines" need to be made public quickly to allow areas that are in a position to do so to welcome tourists.
Member States, which retain their health prerogatives, will have to take account of these "clear health rules, validated by the health authorities and known to all". As for the possibility of traveling within the EU, Thierry Breton estimated that “certain zones will be opened to the tourists and others not. We will have to respect areas which will not be treated in the same way ”. The Member States are embarking on a gradual and dispersed deconfinement.
Read also: Brussels is working on "harmonized reception rules" for tourists
Club Med is betting on a summer and mountain season
Henri Giscard d'Estaing entrusted Figaro with his vision for the summer tourist season: "The great outdoors and a feeling of freedom, that's what we all want today: as such, the mountains will be a very attractive destination and our resorts located in the French or Italian Alps will be particularly suited to these expectations. ” To encourage customers to return, Club Med obviously plans to reinforce health security measures with strict compliance with barrier gestures. All tourism stakeholders work on a health charter.
Read also: For this summer, Club Med is betting on the mountain, "a very attractive destination"
Australia and New Zealand, a common “bubble” of travel?
The governments of Australia and New Zealand are discussing the creation of a common space, a "bubble" within which travel restrictions against the coronavirus would be lifted. The two countries recorded a clear decline in contamination. The idea of this "bubble"? The two neighbors would no longer impose a 14-day quarantine on people arriving on the other side of the Tasman Sea.
Read also: Faced with the virus, Australia and New Zealand are considering a common "bubble"
Airbnb: few bookings in France
“We are sailing by sight , recognizes Emmanuel Marill, the director of Airbnb France. The French are starting to look for rentals for July and August, but they are not booking yet. There are too many uncertainties. The conditions for reopening restaurants will be an important element. We advise guests to have a flexible cancellation policy ” . Last year, the French had represented 66% of its customers. If foreigners were to stay at home this year, Airbnb therefore risks losing a third of its attendance.
Read also: Airbnb prepares to spend a difficult summer in France
May 4
Air France: mandatory mask
The wearing of the mask will be mandatory on Air France planes from May 11 and passengers will be asked to bring their own mask before boarding, announced the airline, which has also implemented "a physical distance on board whenever possible. On most flights, the current low occupancy rates allow customers to be spaced out , ”she says.
Read also: Coronavirus: will there be a risk in flying?
»SEE ALSO - Masks, cleaning ... how Air France is preparing for deconfinement.
In the Czech Republic, international travel authorized from May 11
As of May 11, the Czech government will lift restrictions on the international carriage of passengers by road and train, which have been in effect since March 14. Travelers could enter the Czech Republic provided they present a negative test result or observe two weeks of quarantine. Museums, cinemas, shopping centers and hair salons are among the establishments authorized to reopen on May 11.
Read also: From Prague to Ostrava, visit the Czech Republic by train
Royaumont Abbey, one hour from Paris, will reopen in June
Royaumont Abbey is located in the Val d'Oise, one hour from Paris. Royaumont Foundation
Closed since mid-March, Royaumont Abbey, located in Asnières-sur-Oise (Val d'Oise), will reopen in June. Founded in 1228 by the future King Saint-Louis and his mother Blanche de Castille, the Gothic building is located in a 6 hectare wooded park. The monks' old cells house the rooms of the hotel which is due to reopen on July 1st.
Read also: Fontainebleau, Malmaison, Chantilly ... These castles to discover within 100 kilometers of Paris
May 3
Portugal resumes flights to Paris and London
Portugal limits the occupation of planes to two thirds of their capacity, in order to respect social distancing between passengers, and resumes its first international flights. TAP Air Portugal, which since the beginning of April has only provided connections between the Portuguese mainland and the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, will provide until May 17 two weekly return flights to Paris and two to London.
Read also: Ten reasons to discover Portugal (when possible)
