In Lourdes, tourism professionals, hard hit by the economic consequences of the pandemic, were heard.
The Secretary of State for Tourism, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, announced on Friday a strengthening of the support plan for the Marian city which usually attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world every year.
The envelope devoted to this plan has been increased by 20 million euros intended in particular for the creation of a territorial intervention and support fund.
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“
It's about making it possible both to face the emergency and at the same time to prepare the conditions for a rebound.
We still have a few difficult months ahead and that is why we are providing additional funds to support the actors of Lourdes,
”explained Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, who visited the site.
In addition to the creation of this territorial fund, another envelope of 77 million euros is devoted to measures of deferral of social contributions, loans guaranteed by the State or financing of partial activity.
“
Substantial efforts are being made,
reacted Thierry Lavit, the mayor of Lourdes.
What is to be noted is the sacred union around this plane.
Instead of suffering, we are going to put in place several actions to allow in particular to bring back individual [pilgrims] to Lourdes
”, specifying that the majority of group pilgrimages were canceled until July 2021.
"The season is already dead for the first quarter"
"
The season is already dead for the first quarter
"
,
confirmed Christian Gelis, president of Umih 65. The employers' organization expects "
a decline of 70% in turnover
" of tourism professionals in the city in 2021 compared to a normal season.
“
The great unknown is whether companies will be able to hold out despite the aid.
We are going to work on the return of the French and individual pilgrims but we are not going to change the model in three months
”, he laments, while“
Lourdes is 80% of groups and 60% of foreigners
” , he recalls.
Regarding seasonal workers, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne assured that they could "
benefit from the
safety net of 900 euros
which is planned until the end of February
".
“
This will all the same reassure the people who are at the end of their rights and who find themselves in the RSA.
It will allow them to breathe a little.
But if the season does not resume, other measures will be necessary,
”underlines Emilie Auburgan, president of the Lourdes seasonal association.
The economy of Lourdes, the second hotel town in France after Paris, depends essentially on religious tourism and organized pilgrimages.
The Sanctuary and its Grotto, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, usually attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world every year.