Finished for the moment the romantic weekend in Venice or the cultural trip to Milan? The very rapid increase in the number of cases of coronavirus-related infections risks jeopardizing our getaway plans for the coming months. In Europe alone, the tourism industry has already lost a billion euros per month since January, according to Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market. And the risk has just gone from "moderate" to "high" in the European Union. But for the moment, only school trips are canceled throughout France. As for tourist stays, they are only discouraged by the French authorities in the centers of contagion (the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto in Italy, China, South Korea, Iran and Singapore).
"It is preferable to postpone trips abroad, as much as possible" , indicates the Quai d'Orsay, while the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon, indicated in his press conference on Sunday March 1 that: "non-essential trips are to be postponed, especially for countries outside the European Union" . For all those who do not want to give in to psychosis and still enjoy the first weekends of spring and the pretty bridges of May, here are the answers to the main questions we ask ourselves. Necessarily.
»Read also - Follow our live on the evolution of the coronavirus epidemic
Is my destination affected by the epidemic?
To date, only a few countries or regions are considered to be centers of contagion. This is the case of China, South Korea, Iran and the regions of Emilia-Romagna Lombardy and Veneto in Italy. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against visiting these regions, except for "imperative reason". The existence of a few cases in other countries is not enough to consider them as centers of contagion. The Worldometer site records the number of cases and deaths by country in real time.
What checks should I expect once there?
Several countries have implemented measures to detect symptoms when travelers arrive. At major airports around the world, the temperature of passengers is monitored by thermal cameras. Some states prohibit foreigners transiting through China from entering their territory within 14 days. This is the case of the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam or the United States. They also added questions to their declaration form upon entering the territory.
Others, such as the United Kingdom, have decreed 14-day containment measures for travelers who have stayed in the affected areas. People who have stayed in coronavirus areas, including those who have not developed any symptoms, are encouraged to report to the NHS111. France did not enter, on Monday, March 2, in the list of regions requiring containment.
»Read also - How tourism stakeholders in Italy adapt to the epidemic
If I give up leaving at the last moment, can I be reimbursed?
If you have booked your stay through a travel agency , it is required to reimburse you or to offer a postponement of dates or destination. Please note, this commercial measure only applies if you have planned to go to an area affected by the epidemic.
If the flight and accommodation have been booked separately , reimbursement is at the discretion of the airline or the hotelier. Cancellation insurance does not systematically apply. "We have to check the contracts, but most of the time we will find exclusions from care in the event of natural phenomena, civil war, demonstrations and pandemics," says Raphaël Bartlomé, head of legal service at UFC-Que Choisir . Finally, to find last-minute information on your destination, it is best to consult the France Diplomatie website.