Since June 22, all travelers can move freely between France, and certain overseas territories such as Martinique, Guadeloupe and Reunion. July 10 marks a new stage: the mandatory seventh on arrival is now eliminated. However, a PCR screening test must be performed within 72 hours before the flight. “It is free and accessible without a prescription, upon presentation of the airline ticket. There is therefore no obstacle to planning a stay on the islands for your summer holidays, ” says François Baltus Languedoc, director general of the Martinique Tourism Committee.
Plane and ferry: what transport offer?
Two airlines currently operate from Paris Orly to the Aimé-Césaire international airport, located 12 kilometers from Fort-de-France: Air Caraïbes and Corsair. For Air France, departures are from Roissy Charles de Gaulle. Rotations from Brussels-Charleroi, with Air Belgium, resume on July 15. " It is also possible to travel in the region with several shipping companies which provide regular connections with the neighboring islands of the north (Dominica and Guadeloupe) ", continues François Baltus.
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In Reunion, the gradual lifting of travel restriction measures overseas and the reopening of Orly airport have enabled a more regular connection between the island and the mainland. The frequency of flights is increasing sharply with connections operated by Air France, Air Austral, Corsair and French Bee.
On the side of Guyana and Mayotte, the state of health emergency is extended until October 30 inclusive, because the Covid-19 is still circulating there very actively. Travel is therefore only authorized if there is a compelling reason. This excludes summer holidays.
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Hotels, activities ... What tourist services on site?
Since July 1, 82% of hotels of all sizes (hotels, lodges, guesthouses, etc.) have reopened their doors to local customers and travelers. “This represents more than 3,000 rooms available for booking in Martinique. Tourism professionals have all been trained in new health protocols in order to guarantee the health of customers, ” says François Baltus Languedoc.
The majority of service providers have also resumed their activity, with a plural offer: nautical excursions, diving, culture… “The Fort-de-France Festival is maintained with outdoor events throughout July, just like the Martinique Festival Wonder of the World , from July 5 to August 19. The Tropiques Atrium cultural space has also retained a large part of its program, ” explains the Director General of the Martinique Tourism Committee.
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The recovery is also topical in Reunion. If the program of festivities has been adapted, with certain events postponed such as the Sakifo Musik Festival or the Électropicales, everything has been done so that tourists have the widest choice of activities and experiences possible.
"Trails, markets and outdoor activities (canyoning, diving, hiking, paragliding, exploring lava tunnels ...) are accessible in compliance with health rules, notes Denis Feraud, head of press relations of the Réunion Committee tourism. . But the majority of our sites respect social distancing by nature, like our coastlines or our pitons and circuses classified as World Heritage by Unesco . All museums are also ready to welcome the public according to the new instructions. Young and old can discover the life of sea turtles in Kelonia or the secrets of Piton de La Fournaise at the Cité du Volcan ”.
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Will there be people in the DOM-TOM this summer?
Like many destinations, tourist attendance in Reunion has been largely impacted by the health environment in recent months. " We should expect fewer outside visitors, but this is precisely the opportunity to have more exchanges and to meet more with the locals, " says Denis Feraud.
A message shared by François Baltus Languedoc, for the destination Martinique. “The global crisis has heavily impacted tourism activity in the overseas territories. From a global point of view, we are already seeing a 40% drop in bookings on the French market for the next nine months. ” In these conditions, in order to allow the fastest possible economic recovery, the Committee has bet on the local and regional market, to encourage the Martinicans and the Guadeloupeans to rediscover our island with more than 200 promotional offers offered in all areas.
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“But since June 15 and the authorization to travel within the European Union , without a travel certificate, we are delighted to be able to receive French tourists again. Martinique has always been a welcoming land in the heart of the Caribbean, this will not change! " Concludes the Director General.
