After a year and a half of curfew and confinement, we thought we would finally see the end of the tunnel and be able to go on vacation with peace of mind.
It was before the appearance of the Delta variant which reshuffles the cards.
More contagious and more resistant to vaccines, it is spreading like wildfire in Europe and once again threatens to compromise the summer holidays of the French.
Both vacationers and tourism professionals are plagued by doubt.
Testimonials.
Read also: Spain, Portugal: the Delta variant does not cut the wings of airlines
Vacationers in uncertainty
"
I had bet on Spain, telling myself that it was a safe bet, but a few weeks before my departure, I have the impression of having bet on the wrong horse,
" notes Isabelle, 41, nutritionist in Vincennes.
At the beginning of August, she had planned two weeks in Barcelona with her husband and daughter.
Today, faced with the epidemic rebound of Covid-19 cases in Spain
-
14,760 new contaminations identified on average every day, according to figures from the Reuters agency
-,
after the statements of Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs, last Thursday, who recommended avoiding the country of Cervantes this summer, and after his confirmation last night, of reinforced surveillance for the unvaccinated, she hesitates. Go ? Cancel everything and travel to France? Give up your vacation? "
I still do not have the answer,
" regrets the specialist, who will not have time to be immunized before her departure.
Like her, Estelle 36, an employee of a beauty institute in Lyon, remains perplexed. This summer, she booked a month-long road trip to Portugal, a country also facing a surge in cases due to the Delta variant. Two problems arise for her: the thirty-something will not receive her first dose of vaccine until the day before her departure and will therefore be one of the travelers subject to reinforced surveillance on her return. In addition, on the spot, the Portuguese government announced a new turn of the sanitary screw. Since July 2, a night curfew has been re-established in 45 municipalities including Lisbon and Porto. Two unforeseen events which greatly bother her as the D-day approaches. "
Between the rules which
are constantly changing over there
and the instructions which move every two days here, it is difficult to navigate and to know if we will really be able to leave or not, and under what conditions,
”laments the thirty-something.
To read also: Variant Delta: "It is not yet necessary to cancel your holidays in Spain"
On the side of Eduardo and Paul, respectively lawyer and commercial of 38 and 26 years, it is yet another kettle of fish.
One is planning to fly to Mozambique, the other to travel to Kenya.
To do this, the two travelers, vaccinated, must transit through South Africa, for the moment subject to the regime of compelling reasons.
And for good reason, the country is classified "red" by France, due to an active circulation of the virus with the presence of worrying variants.
Will they be able to leave?
Will they have to cancel?
Report ?
Here too, uncertainty dominates.
At present, neither of the two young men has yet chosen sides.
Impossible to anticipate for professionals
The doubts are also shared on the side of tourism professionals, who navigate on sight. “
For us, too, it's complicated. Impossible to anticipate,
”describes Xavier Duvot of the My Luxury Travel agency. His daily life: juggling between the continuous changes in the health regulations of the countries, the openings and closings of the borders, the tests, antigenic or PCR, of less than 48 or 72 hours, paying or not… It is a real balancing act for manage to satisfy everyone: the vaccinated, the unvaccinated, those who are ready to do anything to leave and even plan to leave Brussels, Frankfurt or Amsterdam, when conditions are too complicated in France, those who, in conversely, cancel or postpone at the slightest hitch,those who are still traumatized by the assets… "
It's a real Tetris,
”explains the professional.
To read also: Variant Delta: "There is no more risk to go to Spain or Portugal than to stay in France"
An observation, also shared by Jean-François Rial, CEO of Voyageurs du Monde: “
The message is to get vaccinated, period. And then be able to leave! To advise against Spain and Portugal to vaccinated people, that makes no sense!
», He recalls. Asked by Euronews, Didier Arino, Managing Director of Protourisme follows: “
They advise against it, what does that mean in concrete terms? Either there is a clear closure of the borders, or nothing is said! [...] All those who had already booked and a large part of those who were considering leaving will do so, but those who had not booked will hesitate to leave. This could have a strong impact on last minute bookings
, ”he adds.
Fortunately, for the time being, this is not the case. The Delta variant, which certainly disrupts the organization, did not generate excess cancellations. Neither at Voyageurs du Monde, nor for the Best Western hotel chain, whose reservation curve remains "
very stable
". Same story for the outdoor hotel company Homair Vacances, which has not seen any "
slowdown
" in its business. Hope it lasts.