An already very popular destination, Corsica may well be the ideal holiday location for this summer of 2020. With friends or family, the island will seduce lovers of beaches such as those of hiking or mountains. Because of’coronavirus epidemic, vacation destinations will be limited this summer, the opportunity to discover or rediscover the island of beauty.
A campaign to promote the island ended on Tuesday, June 23: “Corsica, a destination in complete confidence”, carried out by Corsica Tourism Agency (ATC) in the hope of reassuring both tourists and the Corsican population. Indeed, there is little time, nothing ensured that the French can go on vacation this summer.
Nevertheless the tourist recovery is felt on the island of beauty as in witnessed Frédéric Pilloud, digital director of the platform Misterfly : “Since the beginning of June we have started to have signals of a recovery. We had never seen that, Corsica has become our best-selling destination in France, one ticket in four that we sell is for Corsica, it even beats Paris is very impressive “.
Transportation
This recovery, still slow, was possible after the government’s announcements. On June 2, flight restrictions to Corsica have been suspended, However, flights between the island and the mainland were limited to imperative or professional reasons. Since then, the island is preparing to receive a wave of tourists soon. In fact, air traffic, although more limited than normal, is starting to resume seriously.
Indeed, as soon as the decree was lifted, the local company Air Corsica deployed its takeover offer and thus proposed more than 11,000 flights between June 25 and October 24, 2020, which represents almost 1.5 million seats. Starting June 26, Orly Airport to resume service.
Regarding maritime links, the supply of crossings has almost returned to normal. The connections have already resumed in a more limited way from Toulon, Nice, Livorno and Savona and should resume normally from July 1, reports Le Figaro.
Accommodation and leisure
Tourism accounts for 33% of Corsican GDP, compared to 7.4% for the national average, therefore tourists are eagerly awaited on the island of beauty, especially when you know that 20% of jobs on the island are seasonal.
On the beach side, the light is green. Almost all of them have been reopened since the weekend of the ascent. Concerning leisure “the offer remains unchanged but adapts“said Nanette Maupertuis, director of ATC to our colleagues from Figaro before adding that “the principle of physical distance will be applied by all activity providers” (water sports, nature excursions or guided tours).
The director of the Corsica Tourism Agency also said that museums and archaeological sites “may be visited without restrictions”. Regarding accommodation, hotels, campsites and holiday centers are just waiting for tourists to return. ATC says it worked alongside the hosts “to make this summer a success.” Indeed, the brand “Safe Corsica” was launched and allows the main players in tourism to adopt these “health reinsurance” regulations.
Health measures
If the request of the community of Corsica about the implementation of a “green pass” or a health passport was not retained, the island still puts in place a number of precautions to reassure tourists, Corsicans and prevent the spread of the epidemic.
The authorities have chosen to propose from 1 July and “on a voluntary basis”, tourists going to Corsica to carry out a preventive test, 48 to 72 hours before the trip. Added to this are, among other things, temperature controls in ports and airports, and enhanced resuscitation services. Authorities last week presented a battery of measures to secure the tourist season in Corsica.
To do so, a health “questionnaire” will be sent when booking travel, explained the Prefect of Corsica Franck Robine and the director of the Regional Health Agency Marie-Hélène Lecenne, during a press conference. “The voluntary test participates in the prevention and raises awareness among those who come to Corsica but the obligation was not retained because it would have presented too many material and legal disadvantages “, specified the prefect.
38 beds available in intensive care compared to 18 last season
Still on a voluntary basis, “mobile brigades will also carry out preventive test campaigns”, or 1,000 between July 1 and July 15. The capacity for Covid-19 RT-PCR detection tests by nasopharyngeal swab will be increased to 2,100 tests per day in July and August, against 1,500 today.
In the current epidemic context, 600 places were freed in order to place positive people in isolation, if they had no place to do it. In intensive care, the number of beds available goes from 18 last season to 38 for all of Corsica.
A unique number 116.117, which provides Covid-19 medical consultation, is also reactivated. A prospectus, available in several languages and detailing useful numbers, reminder of barrier gestures and a link to the list of sampling centers, will also be given to travelers.
