French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has announced an “unprecedented” 18 billion euro plan to support the country’s tourism industry.
Under the plan, tourism businesses will be eligible for grants of up to 10,000 euros. There are also government-guaranteed loans totalling 6.2 billion euro.
“(Tourism in France) is probably facing the worst test in its modern history, even though it is one of the jewels of the French economy,” Philippe said Thursday, adding that French residents would be able to go on domestic summer holidays in July and August.
Philippe said cafés and restaurants in green zones – where the coronavirus epidemic is not as bad – would reopen on June 2 as long as the situation doesn’t deteriorate.
For Paris and other areas in red zones, a decision to reopen cafés and restaurants would be made during the week of May 25.
He also thanked the tourism industry for guaranteeing that full refunds would be given for cancellations related to coronavirus.
Read more via France 24
