Book your holiday in France now despite quarantine threat, says French tourist minister
Britons should book their holidays in France now and they will not be penalised if they cancel, the country's tourism minister said as he forecast that quarantine will not apply in July.
In an appeal to Britons thinking of holidaying in France, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne also hinted that France will impose a "softer touch" quarantine on British holidaymakers in retaliation for the UK restrictions due to come in on Monday.
France is keen to see UK travel restrictions lifted, as some 14 million Britons visit the country every year, more than any other nationality. The reverse is more or less true, Mr Lemoyne said.
"Lifting this quarantine by the end of June would be very beneficial both for the British and French, allowing us to re-establish connectivity between the two countries and mutual movement," he told The Telegraph in an interview with several European newspapers.
From Monday, the UK will require all international arrivals, including returning Britons, to self-isolate for 14 days. Anyone who fails to abide by the quarantine rules faces fines of up to £1,000. France is imposing "reciprocal" quarantine for British nationals.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, on Friday refused to put a timetable on when Britain might ease the restrictions or whether they would be lifted with "air bridges" allowing the free flow of passengers to and from low risk nations when the rules are reviewed in three weeks.
He would say only that he "hoped" they could be eased "later in the year" but until then the public should abide by the Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel abroad.
Mr Lemoyne insisted, however, that uncertainty over quarantine should not stop Britons from booking their holidays even before the situation is cleared up.
"Book now because tourist agents have committed to being as flexible as possible in case of any problems linked to Covid, and book now because you'll get the best deals in terms of cost," he said.
"Tourist professionals have made commitments on flexibility and financial guarantees. That means that the main hotel federations, travel groups have committed to facilitating cancellations and reimbursements... due to Covid.”
Since France started exiting lockdown last month, daily bookings of gites had multiplied tenfold and campsites had been besieged with requests, he said.
“My advice is book, because there will perhaps be more French remaining in France this year," he added.
Around nine million French people holiday abroad every summer. This year, at least half of those will stay in their home country, polls suggest.
Mr Lemoyne said Britons would not face fines, as in the UK, and would be simply urged to respect self-isolation. France's top scientist announced that the country's coronavirus epidemic was now "under control".
"Naturally, measures such as quarantine would be a question of individual responsibility. Very clearly, we will work like that in France," he said.
Mr Lemoyne said three-quarters of EU countries were in agreement to lift restrictions by June 15 and more may join following an interior ministers meeting on Friday. France is also pushing for the EU to open up its external borders to foreigners as early as July 1, depending on infection levels.
Regarding the UK, Mr Lemoyne said France had "not lost hope" that "the sanitary situation over the Channel will allow a waiving of quarantine measures by the end of the month of June, although that is Britain's sovereign decision", and said it was "actively pursuing talks" with the UK on the issue.
"What counts is that the summer season and holidays start proper in July. In reality, when children leave school and families really leave we will all be singing from the same hymn sheet and all the conditions will be right for people to move around in the best conditions," he predicted.
