Campsites reopen: “We were waiting for the signal”

Campsites are allowed to reopen Tuesday June 2. But the establishments Ile-de-France will have to wait at least until June 22. The industry was eagerly awaiting this signal. Explanations from the Federation of Outdoor Hotels.

Campsites have obtained permission to open Tuesday, except in Ile-de-France. It is a relief ?

Yes. We make 80% of our turnover in July-August. As soon as the Prime Minister announced the reopening, the phone never stopped ringing. We needed this signal to make up for the delay in reservations.

How does attendance look like?

The unknown is foreign customers, who represent a third of the attendance. The announcement of a possible reopening of intra-European borders on June 15 reassured us. However, we are pessimistic about the English clientele. The United Kingdom has introduced around 14 for travelers entering its territory (from June 8). France does not exclude reciprocity. Very few Britons are therefore expected to visit us. In the West, it is often the first foreign clientele on campsites.

Can this weaken establishments?

Yes. But everything that has been put in place by the government should enable the majority of campsites to pass the course: guaranteed loans, carry-over of credits, etc. On the other hand, we are worried about the buyers, who bought a campsite this winter. Will their bank support them?

How much do you estimate the decline in activity over the whole year?

In addition to the erosion of foreign customers, we must take into account the loss of the spring months, which represent 10% of turnover. In total, we expect activity to decline by at least 20% in 2020.

With less activity, will the campsites maintain their workforce?

We may recruit as many seasonal workers as we did in 2019, with slightly less activity. Because health constraints will accentuate the need for staff.

Where is recruitment at?

He had been suspended since March. Since Friday, all campsites have relaunched hiring. We have 40,000 seasonal workers to recruit. It’s a speed race. You should know that the clientele is more and more in search of campsites, which have equipment and services. This requires significant staff: horse riding centers, playgrounds, aquatic areas, etc.

Is reopening swimming pools good news for campsites?

It’s fundamental. Without the pools, we ran to disaster. One campsite in two has a swimming pool. These establishments represent 90% of attendance. We are the preferred accommodation for families with children in the summer. Without a pool, more than one in two say they are ready to give up their vacation.

– .