How to relaunch tourism in Paris after the coronavirus’ crisis? This is a secret to no one: 2020 is about to be one of the most catastrophic years ever recorded for the touristic field. Streets usually stormed by tourists are desert, and order books are empty. As of today, the world’s first destination is getting organized with one simple goal: relaunching the touristic machine in Paris after the confinement.
Of course, first of all, tourism players want to limit the damage. In that way, the Regional Tourism Committee (CRT) plans to accompany the most badly hit companied: exemption of extended social costs, partial work plan and even solidarity fund, tourism companies more widely enjoy supportive measures announced by the government. For instance, the maximal delay to repay the loan guaranteed by the State from the Public Investment Bank (BPI) spans over 10 years instead of 5. The solidarity fund enables these very companies to enjoy a retroactive increment only based on the main activity pursued index (APE), and no longer on a justification of lower turnover in the first quarter of 2019.
Moreover, tourism players are working hard to fill order books for 2021. Even though they already scrapped 2020, a massive communication campaign is being planned to make people want to come to Paris and to travel. CRT president says in an interview with JDD he hopes “in September to bring those in charge” in all tourism economy parts “abroad so that they can meet tour operators and fill the order books in for Christmas and especially for 2021”. Major tourism shows – not cancelled yet – like WTN in London in November or the IBTM in Barcelona in December are expected to give the sector a boost.
Moreover, according to Paris Tourism Office Corinne Menegaux, the hope to resume in 2021 remains. She explains to JDD that “Paris is an extremely resilient destination” as much for business travel as for leisure travel. According to the CRT, places like “the Eiffel Tower, Versailles and the Louvre” take part in “a natural and very strong activity”. It remains to be seen if this Parisian touristic nature will allow to repeat the 2018 achievement that with a sharp increase definitely buried the 2015 terror attacks.
