Summer holidays 2020: on what dates?
Edouard Philippe finally gave the green light Thursday. Despite the coronavirus epidemic, the French will be able to go on vacation in July and August, at least on national territory. At this stage, many uncertainties remain and geographic restrictions cannot be excluded, depending on the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic. But this beginning of clarification is welcome.
So far, the government has multiplied the sometimes contradictory messages of caution to a France who comes out of eight weeks at home and slowly decays. The announcements for the summer season were only scheduled for late May or early June. And the ministers followed one another to repeat not to reserve anything, or not to anticipate holidays abroad. In any case not outside the Schengen area, bordered Emmanuel Macron. Many announcements are still awaited. The executive will not announce for example that at the end of May the calendar of reopening of restaurants, bars… which conditions part of the tourist offer in France.
Read also: Summer holidays 2020: how the French will be able to travel (or not)
The State hopes to authorize the reopening of certain establishments on June 2. This deadline will be "fixed during the week of May 25" in the departments classified green, provided that the "capacity to contain the epidemic is demonstrated" until this horizon, decided Edouard Philippe.
The dates of summer school holidays 2020, on the other hand, remain unchanged assured the Minister of National Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer on BFM TV. They will therefore start on Monday July 6 for the three zones A, B and C, and will stretch until September 1.
»SEE ALSO - Edouard Philippe:« The French can go on vacation to France ».
Where to go this summer in France?
Most of the players in tourism and the French had anticipated it in view of the symmetrical and global magnitude of the Covid-19 pandemic: the tourist season of July August will have a local, very French-French coloring. For now, the government's course for this summer is that "the French will be able to go on vacation to France in July and August, in mainland France or in the overseas departments," said Edouard Philippe .
While adding however that " there is not much certainty on this subject ". The Prime Minister thus spares the hypothesis of a second epidemic wave and of possible " very localized restrictions ".
Read also: Summer vacation, restaurants ... What to remember from Edouard Philippe's announcements for tourism
At present, French travel is limited to 100 km around their home, until June 2. A decree issued under the state of health emergency, finally extended until July 10, would activate these "very localized restrictions" . They would be decided on the basis of the health situation in the departments classified as "green" or "red", a lack of tests or tension on the local capacity for resuscitation.
To call on our compatriots to discover their heritage, several tourism players have launched the #CetEteJeVisiteLaFrance operation on social networks. Sixty parliamentarians also called for "tourist patriotism", particularly in the columns of the Figaro . A plea for "domestic tourism" launched in other countries, such as Italy.
Read also: Coronavirus: Italy is preparing for its first summer without foreign tourists
Refund in the event of cancellation linked to Covid-19: what conditions?
Until now, the French who had booked a trip until September 15 were offered a credit of equivalent value, valid for 18 months and repayable at this time. This device, dating from March 25, and derogating from the Tourism Code, does not concern “dry” transport (plane tickets, train tickets, etc.). For these summer holidays, Edouard Philippe promised, to encourage the French to book now on the national territory, that "the players in tourism, the hotel industry, are committed to ensuring that they are fully reimbursed in the event that the evolution of the epidemic would not make it possible to go on vacation. "
A promise on which many players were working, like Pierre & Vacances-Center Parcs or Odalys. Specific offers allowing in particular to cancel at the last moment will now flourish.
Read also: Holidays 2020 and coronavirus: experts' answers to our readers
»SEE ALSO - Cancellation of a reservation due to the Covid-19:« tourism professionals are committed to reimbursing »
Will we be able to travel abroad this summer?
Last year, 9 million French people went sunbathing outside our borders in July and August. Not sure that they will be able to unclog their tube of sunscreen this summer 2020, at least not in the same proportions. The message that prevails for the moment on the subject of holidays abroad is that of Emmanuel Macron. On May 5, the President of the Republic announced the restriction of "international travel". "So we will stay between Europeans. Perhaps, depending on the epidemic, it will even have to reduce a little more, " he added. The potential holiday area is therefore limited to Europe.
»SEE ALSO - What could our summer vacation look like?
The European Commission tried on May 13 to frame the tourist season within the EU. His scenario? Allow tourist trips between countries with the same epidemiological profile and having adopted comparable preventive measures. "Yes, there will be a tourist season this summer (...). We are entering this progressive phase of the reopening of our borders, ”said European Commissioner Thierry Breton.
The Commission tries to play the conductors but each State remains, however, a decision-maker for its health policy ... and plays its own score. In fact, discussions between countries are taking place on the subject. Greece, for example, imagines hypothetical “Covid-19 passports” authorizing traffic. But the false notes are linked.
Spain, the main magnet for French tourists in the summer, is expected to keep its borders closed until July. And the country has imposed since May 15 a two-week isolation for travelers from abroad. This quarantine device is supposed to expire on May 24, with the state of emergency. But the two measures are likely to be extended.
Read also: Coronavirus: Spain begins to control the arrival of foreigners
In Italy, Council President Giuseppe Conte called on his European partners not to give in to the temptation to conclude bilateral tourism agreements, adding that initiatives of this type in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic would be likely to destroy the market. common.
Greece, whose islands attract hundreds of thousands of French people every summer, announces that it has a summer season open to foreigners. The date is even set for July 1st. Athens must however specify its method for international air transport to restart, while reassuring tourists and the population on the health issue.
Read also: Coronavirus and tourism: Greece wants to bet on summer holidays
For its part, the French government is still delaying on the subject. He recommends that those who are planning a trip to Europe this summer to see how the situation of the coronavirus pandemic is evolving before making a reservation. "I (their) advise to wait because I do not have enough visibility at this stage on the health situation and on what we can do (..) in one, two or three months," said the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Amélie de Montchalin, on RTL.
"We really have to make sure that we don't have a second wave to be able to have this kind of thinking," she added. Without excluding, however, that the French can spend their holidays in the countries around the Mediterranean or elsewhere in Europe.
Read also: Brussels wants a coordinated reopening of borders within Europe
Can we fly?
What if Europe becomes a mosaic again? In terms of air transport, the companies are totally dependent on the decisions of each country. If some carriers have completely ceased their activities like Transavia, EasyJet or Ryanair, traditional companies like Air France, Lufthansa or Iberia are trying to maintain some flights. This depends on the opening or closing of borders and the health rules which are imposed on travelers.
If, for example, Air France and KLM each maintained a daily flight between Paris and Amsterdam, it is because Holland has not imposed entry or exit restrictions for visitors. On the other hand, only one flight per day in Swiss / Air France cooperation is provided to Geneva where, in addition to Swiss nationals and residents, business travelers can, since May 11, enter the territory.
Read also: Air France multiplies health precautions to regain the confidence of passengers
As for Spain, which has just tightened its entry conditions and whose embassy recommends not to travel, Iberia only offers three flights per week and Air France between one and three. The European Commission is to meet next week to recommend common rules for entering and leaving territories, in particular between neighboring countries.
If in Europe there are as many scenarios as countries, things get even more complicated for long-haul routes. The few flights from Charles de Gaulle operated by Air France are reserved for passengers who have obtained authorization to enter the territory from the embassy of the country of arrival.
»SEE ALSO - Mask, cleaning ... how Air France prepares future trips
Can we book train tickets?
The SNCF opened reservations for the months of July and August this Friday, May 15 in the morning. "You can book your train ticket tomorrow for the whole of France and we will be there," said Thursday Christophe Fanichet, CEO of SNCF Voyages, during a press point Thursday. The tickets sold for this summer will be exchangeable or refundable without charge, ensures the SNCF.
Read also: Coronavirus: SNCF and RATP faced with the puzzle of respecting distancing in transport
The railway company had to significantly reduce the airfoil at the start of the coronavirus epidemic. Since May 11, the date of the start of deconfinement, it has been gradually strengthening its offer. Currently, only 35% of TGVs and 25% of Intercities operate, but all trains should be put back into service by summer. Pending further instructions on June 2, the end of the first phase of deconfinement, the company is selling only one seat in two on its trains to comply with the principle of social distancing.
As of Friday morning, connections to the SNCF site had already jumped 120% for ticket reservations, a level four times higher than Thursday morning.
Read also: Holidays in France: double attendance on the SNCF site
