LE FIGARO. - Tourism is one of the sectors most affected by the Covid-19 crisis . Are companies taking government support measures?
Jean-Pierre MAS. - The government has taken the necessary measures and in good time, whether it is the possibility of offering assets to our customers, the postponement of fiscal and social deadlines ... Travel agents and tour operators, on the front line in this coronavirus crisis, seized it. Today, more than 70% of our companies, for example, are implementing partial unemployment measures, which in total affect almost 90% of the 35,000 employees in the sector. I remain cautious in the face of this crisis, the scope of which remains unknown. I think that these measures can allow tourism businesses to emerge from this weakened but lively period. But several important issues still need to be resolved.
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What are these unresolved matters?
Relations with the administration remain fraught with heaviness, but, overall, the demands of our companies lead to the areas I mentioned. On the other hand, obtaining guaranteed cash loans from banks is complicated. The situations are very heterogeneous: some banking establishments are proactive, others are reluctant. However, our businesses need these loans.
The other hot topic for our sector remains the relationship with IATA, the International Air Transport Association. Many airlines have decided on their own to offer credit for non-operated flights. The problem, in our view, is that these assets are not guaranteed. However, tourism companies issue almost half of airline tickets in France, for an annual amount of nearly 2 billion euros with IATA. We cannot accept that these amounts are not guaranteed if a company goes bankrupt. The subject was again raised during our weekly meeting with the Secretary of State for Tourism, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, this Tuesday, March 31. It is both about protecting travel companies and customers.
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Are you discussing among yourselves what could happen after this pandemic is over?
The subject is discussed in small groups. We are experiencing for the first time in our history a symmetrical crisis, which is raging in all countries. What seems certain is that the French should be reluctant to travel as long as destinations remain closed. In the event of a restart, travel should first take place in France and to a certain extent within the family environment.