France is the most visited country in the world. As per the UN World Tourism Organization’s ‘World Tourism Barometer’, France received 89.4 million tourists in 2018. All of that suddenly changed on March 17, 2020 when the country went into lockdown. The French tourism industry is facing a loss of up to $67.3 billion. Only now have the restrictions started to ease.
Opening in phases
There was some criticism in France about the late imposition of the lockdown by Macron’s government. Eventually, the shortages of personal protective equipment and testing capacity were made-up for. The move to relocate infected cases via trains to sparsely populated areas was lauded as ingenious. France’s Health Department reported that as of June 01 the number of newly infected cases being reported daily was decreasing. Earlier, during ‘phase one’ of the lifting of restrictions, the French were allowed to travel up to 100 km with permission, for essential purposes only. On the basis of the new data, the French government decided to lift restrictions and allow more businesses to open in ‘phase two.’ Also, schools will open to voluntarily attendance. However, businesses like cafés and restaurants which necessitate close human contact will only be allowed to open under strict conditions.
Zoning
Based on the spread and severity of the infection France has been divided into green and orange zones. In the green zones bars, cafés, and restaurants are being allowed to open without any restrictions. Hotels and other tourist accommodations can also operate. In the orange zones, restaurateurs are only allowed to serve customers on terraces. Lodging facilities in orange zones must wait for further information and ministerial decisions.
Normality with caution
Having spent months in social isolation, millions of French were eager to end their quarantine and pour out on the streets. However, there is undoubtedly an air of cautiousness. People are wearing masks and maintaining their distance. Nevertheless, life is slowly returning to normal. Online and international spending is on the rise. People have resumed sending money to their businesses and loved ones abroad, using the Ria Money Transfer App and other favourite channels. For hospitality businesses, there are several new norms to follow. These have been suggested by le Haut Conseil de la Santé Publique (the High Council of Public Health). Some of these guidelines are:
- 10 persons per table at most
- Tables to be placed a meter or more apart
- Customers are prohibited from eating or drinking while standing up
- Servers and other staff are required to wear face masks
- Business owners must sanitize their establishments thoroughly
- In orange zones businesses must close by 10 PM
Reviving tourism
Tourism is vital for France. The government announced a slew of measures to revive the slumped tourism sector. A relief package worth EUR 18 billion is planned. The daily allowance limit for hospitality staff to buy lunches was increased. More establishments are being allowed to open during ‘phase two’ of easing. Residents are free to travel within the country without any restrictions. Recreational places such as parks, gardens, forests, lakes, zoos, pools, and amusement parks can open in all zones. Weddings are permitted with limited gatherings and physical distancing measures. However, large gatherings with more than 5,000 people will not be allowed till the end of August.
In conclusion
The French government has announced a generous economic relief package. Nearly 11 million French will get back 80% of their wages lost due to furloughs. France’s health ministry reports that the country is highly unlikely to go into a second lockdown. As long as the guidelines for safety and social distancing are followed there is hope that conditions will continue to improve. Now that French lives are safe it is time to save the French economy.
About the author:
Hemant G is a contributing writer at Sparkwebs LLC, a Digital and Content Marketing Agency. When he’s not writing, he loves to travel, scuba dive, and watch documentaries.
