Covid-19: Massive losses for French tourism, but there’s some hope
The Secretary of State for Tourism has estimated the losses for French tourism to be at least 30 to 40 billion euros, because of the coronavirus Covid-19 health crisis.
Tremendous losses. The Secretary of State for Tourism, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, estimates that the “immediate impact” of the health crisis on the French tourism sector is at least 30 to 40 billion euros, in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche. He points out that part of the international tourists has “disappeared”.
“Under normal circumstances, tourism generates €180 billion in revenue, €60 billion of which comes from international tourism. The immediate impact of the epidemic is at least 30 to 40 billion euros,” says the Secretary of State.
“Many companies tell us that their business will be down by 20 to 25% by the end of the year,” he adds.
Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne notes that “the French are contributing massively to the revival of the tourism sector by giving priority to France”.
He points out that 7 out of 10 of those who went on holiday chose France. “The blue, white and red summer is here,” he sums up.
“This serves to save the core,” says the Secretary of State. “But let’s be clear: in normal times, France welcomes 17 million foreign tourists every summer, while 9 million French people go abroad,” and “part of this international clientele has disappeared”.
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However, the Secretary of State for Tourism considers “encouraging (…) that the travel plans to France of Belgian, German, Italian and Spanish customers for September are higher than for July and August.” This would “extend the summer,” and “strengthen the relaunch of the sector”.
The Secretary of State also saluted “an encouraging month of July,” while hoping that “August will be excellent,” and the off-season “in the colours of the Indian summer”.
But “this recovery is fragile,” he adds. Because “as soon as a cluster appears, the effect is immediate on holiday cancellations and bookings”.