Riviera Radio Lunchtime News Wednesday 13th May 2020

Tourism sector in France to benefit from “A Great Marshall plan” - The French government plans to invest 1.3 billion euros to revive the tourism sector which is an essential part of France’s economy.

Hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, the tourism sector will reportedly benefit from "a great Marshall plan". Starting with the Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, who will assemble tomorrow Thursday May 14th an inter-ministerial committee of tourism - the fifth of its kind - whose objective is to announce the measures aiming to revive activity in the tourism sector.

David Lisnard, the mayor of Cannes, is to participate in this committee, the city being like Paris and Deauville, considered as a flagship destination for tourism and business tourism.

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, has said that: "We are entering in the coming months, a very important period for tourism professionals. July and August represent € 41 billion in revenue generated by domestic tourism and € 14 billion by international tourism, a total of 55 billion. A third of the tourist activity is done in July and August ". Noting the importance of this Thursday's round table.

Campaign launched by The Prince Abert II of Monaco Foundation - The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has launched a digital campaign inviting people to reflect on how to build the “next world for the environment”, an important challenge after the coronavirus crisis.

In a video recorded from the gardens of the Palace, Prince Albert II suggests that “we don’t miss this opportunity before adding that “we see must reflect on our priorities and reinvent our relationship with nature”.  Concluding that "through the immense social and economic changes as a result of the pandemic, we must encourage each other to better preserve our planet, its climate, its biodiversity and its oceans" .

Summer holidays - The European Commission is reportedly preparing to present new measures to save the summer tourism season, which has been badly hit by the coronavirus crisis. According to a document obtained by the AFP the move would see European countries encouraged to gradually reopen borders. The Commission insists that this reopening must be done in a "concerted", "as harmonious as possible" and a "non-discriminatory" manner.

47% of French plan not to leave home for the summer holidays – Meanwhile a new survey has shown that nearly one in two French people will not leave home during the summer holidays.

According to a YouGov study for the Loisirs Enchères website unveiled by RMC, nearly one in two French people say that they "will not travel" (47%) this summer with 19% planning to "postpone" their summer vacation.

Beaches of Loire-Atlantique to reopen - The prefecture of Loire-Atlantique has authorized the reopening of the beaches of La Baule and Pornichet, which have been closed since lockdown. The public from tomorrow Thursday 14th May, will be allowed to practice individual sporting activities however “sunbathing or a static presence and picnicking is completely prohibited”.

Gatherings of more than ten people, collective physical activities, and the consumption of alcohol are also prohibited on La Baule beach, often described locally as "the most beautiful beach in Europe".

Parks and gardens in Paris to remain closed for the time being - Meanwhile the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, has said in an interview this morning that the reopening of parks in the capital “is a matter of public health”. Her request to reopen parks and gardens in Paris has been refused by the government. Hidalgo says that the decision doesn’t make sense; "You can take the metro, but you can't walk in a park,". The mayor has requested further talks with the government on the matter.