Tourism: what trends for summer 2021?

Tourism finally seems ready to start again for a new summer season, already full of promise. In France, the pandemic is receding, but the Government remains cautious. The summer holidays therefore take place almost normally, while respecting the barrier gestures. How is France organized in the face of the arrival of this important period from many points of view? This season will undoubtedly be decisive for many professionals, impacted for more than a year by the virus. The deployment of vaccination to the entire French population thus makes it possible to see – perhaps – the end of the tunnel.

Relaunching tourism, good news for professionals

Many sectors of activity experience a hard period for their activity. Tourism, first of all, in the face of the closure of borders to foreign tourists. Despite the mobilization in 2020 of French tourists, France, a tourist country par excellence, is experiencing an empty passage. Reopening and then closing culturalspaces, hotels or restaurants does not help. But as the 2021 season arrives, tourism seems ready to regain its colours.

In the face of the decline of the pandemic, the Government is gradually easing the measures. So much so that since June 9, bars, cafes and restaurants can once again receive their customers indoors, and completely fill their terraces. This is good news, accompanied by a reduction in the curfew to 11 p.m.

Restaurant opening customers
Bars, restaurants and cafes welcome their customers indoors again.

Museums also benefit from this dynamic, in addition to the deployment of remote offers, such as virtual tours. For example, the Cité du Vin offers this hybrid format, so that visitors who cannot travel can visit its exhibitions at a reduced rate. In this way, museums ensure an income, and adapt to the new uses of customers.

In one year, reflexes and habits have evolved for companies and their customers. Tourism remains local, digital is gaining ground in many professions, such as online sales. The development of takeaway in restaurants, failing to receive customers, then allowed to continue its activity. This model could continue in a sustainable way, in addition to reopening the establishments to the public.

Thus, the easing of measures and the gradual reopening of all businesses and tourism stakeholders are good news. Good news for the French economy, but also for the French themselves, whose daily lives oscillate between teleworking and waiting.

Vaccination and deployment of flights abroad, the beginning of the recovery

France, like many other countries, had decided to close its borders to foreign tourism to fight the virus. Travel restrictions have a strong impact on a whole section of the economy, especially for airlines. The latter, long on the ground, can only provide a few connections, with reduced capacity. But the gradual reopening of borders is the end of only local tourism.

In Bordeaux, the airport,as every year, announces its catalog of destinations abroad. A varied choice, for tourists who do not wish to spend their summer holidays in their country. Of course, the conditions for travel are strict, in order to guarantee the safety of all. A cautious tourism, but possible despite everything.

Travel travel suitcases tourism
European tourism is picking up its colours.

Companies like Ryanair has already been taking steps for several months, with the introduction of the digital wallet from its mobile application. The passenger can then register his tickets, his test results, and recently, his vaccination certificate. A dematerialized format, practical and in accordance with sanitary measures to travel serenely.

The airline also makes a very positive and encouraging assessment for the future. In May 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, and in the midst of the very first lockdown in France, the company recorded only 0.07 million passengers. A very meagre result, while Bordeaux airport closed its doors, for lack of air links.

In May 2021, the trend is quite different. The low-cost airline has more than 1.8 million passengers, a much larger result. Does the latter mark the beginning of a sustainable and gradual revival of tourism? All professionals who resume their activity believe in it, and take into account all the measures to exercise… Without spreading the virus.

Sources:

Ryanair carried 1.8 million passengers in May 2021 compared to 70,000 in May 2020. Figures published on June 3, 2021

Info Coronavirus Covid-19 – Leisure/holidays – Government, updated on June 9, 2021

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