Le decontamination is becoming clearer in France. One week after the speech by Jean Castexwhich set the 3 May the start of the relaxation, Emmanuel Macron picked up the story in the regional press. The Chairman confirmed this starting point, which will mark the end of travel restrictions. And specified the following stages in the process: ". Le 3 Mayend of certificates and travel restrictions. The 19 MayThe curfew was extended to 9pm and shops, terraces and museums, cinemas and theatres reopened with limited capacity. From 19 Maywe need rediscover our French art of livingBut we must remain cautious and responsible: our conviviality, our culture, our sport... The 9 JuneA 11pm curfew and the opening of cafés, restaurants and sports halls. Finally 30 Juneend of curfew "says Emmanuel Macron from the outset.
Tradeshows resume on 9 June
Alongside this overall timetable, a number of points still need to be fine-tuned - Jean Castex will present a detailed plan on week of 10 May - and hope that the health situation remains on track. Emergency brakes" were also mentioned, and Paris is one of the ten departments still facing problems. But the overall course has now been set. The aim is for the restaurants to reopen on 9 June. Business travellers will still be able to access the restaurant of their choice. hotel from 19 MayAccording to the details announced on Friday by the Minister for Tourism. Only customers of the establishment will be eligible on this date.
in places where crowds gather, such as stadiums, festivals, trade fairs or exhibitions, it would be absurd not to use it
The meeting & events professionals are also focused on this deadline, as the 9 Junethe trade fairs and exhibitions will be able to resume. The capacity will then be set at 5000 peopleand the health pass will be required. On this point, Emmanuel Macron explains: " The health pass will never be a right of access that differentiates French people. It cannot be compulsory for access to everyday places such as restaurants, theatres and cinemas, or for visiting friends. On the other hand, in places where crowds gather, such as stadiums, festivals, fairs or exhibitions, it would be absurd not to use it. ". As indicated a few days earlier, this health pass is accessible via the TousAntiCovid. In addition, the health pass must also be able to accommodate foreign travellersagain from 9 June.
" It is a gateway to freedomsaid Cédric O, Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, speaking on Europe 1 on Friday morning. Without the pass, we wouldn't have been able to reopen events for up to 5,000 people on 9 June. The acceptability of this pass is linked to the fact that it is not necessary for everyday life. I think it was reasonable to confine it to major events."
" All the measures that will enable us to work again, to reignite the economic pump of all these corporate events is good newsexplained Benoit Ramozzi, General Secretary of the Levenement association, interviewed on RTL's morning show. The health pass will enable us to bring people together and give our sector a boost. But you don't create an event overnight, like a restaurant that's allowed to reopen. It takes a little time to organise them. But we're already going to be able to programme them."
The sector could have expected this recovery with confirmation on 14 April that Vivatech will be held in 2021 in a hybrid face-to-face and virtual format. An event that is naturally close to Emmanuel Macron's heart, and which will be held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from 16 to 19 June, will be a powerful symbol of the upturn in business.
Finally, we have dates
Another key association in the sector, the Union Française des Métiers de l'Evénement (UNIMEV), was also delighted with this new horizon giving visibility to the sector. " The reopening announced by Emmanuel Macron from 9 June, even in degraded conditions (5,000 capacity, health pass), will enable the events industry to plan ahead and hope to work in a "normal" way in September." commented UNIMEV. UNIMEV also notes that business has already resumed in China and the United States, and is in the process of doing so in the UK, Spain and Italy, so it is vital that the announced timetable is adhered to. " This deconfinement must be the last, because our sector is on its last legs. We need to put an end to the stop-and-go policy. says the UNIMEV press release.
The association remains vigilant about the implementation of this timetable. It is waiting for more details and guarantees, in particular on the gauges, the methods of application of this health pass, the announced territorialisation and the criteria - incidence and/or vaccination rates - or even on the maintenance of aid for a sector that will take time to really get going again. " This announcement must be clarified and supplemented by strong guarantees for the sector, as the survival of the industry is still at stake." said Olivier Roux, President of UNIMEV.
Speaking to Les Echos, Pablo Nakhlé Cerruti, director of Viparis, is on the same wavelength: " we're going to have to work on the conditions, and on the gradual reduction of accompanying measures until the end of the year", while declaring that this recovery schedule was "It's good news all the same. It meets our demand for visibility."
The hotel-restaurant sector is also satisfied. " Finally, we have dates" said Roland Héguy, confederal president of Umih, interviewed by L'Hôtellerie. Although the sector was hoping to be able to reopen the terraces for the Ascension weekend, the date of 17 May is a first step before the restaurant dinners will be possible again from 9 June, with the curfew extended to 11pm. However, although it had been envisaged for a time, hotel catering does not benefit from a special regime.
