By Chris Littley
The French government has announced its caravan parks will be allowed to reopen from tomorrow (June 2nd), as it continues to outline its plans to come out of lockdown.
Édouard Philippe, the country’s prime minister, described the move as part of a new phase in which “freedom is the rule and restriction the exception,” reports The Mirror.
All of what has been dubbed the ‘green zone’ of mainland France will be able to welcome these new freedoms, but the Ile-de-France region, where Paris lies, will have to wait until June 22nd.
That will equate to 8,000 sites, with businesses feeling a sense of relief and holidaymakers able to salvage something of the summer.
Of course, new measures will be in place when the sites open, with rules to wear masks in enclosed spaces and social distancing etiquette enforced.
Many parks have swimming pools to allow visitors to cool off from the heat of the French sun and this is one area where there will be a number of changes.
Sun loungers are likely to be removed to discourage lingering and markings taped out on the floor to enable safe queuing for water slides.
Christophe Lelièvre, vice-president of the National Federation of Outdoor Hotels said: “Pool water is chlorinated so there are no worries concerning the virus”, but campsite managers are encouraged “to limit the number of deckchairs, or even take them off”.
Individual sites will have to find their own systems to allow visitors to use facilities, with time slots and colour-coded bracelets among the options put forward.
Mr Philippe commented on the easing of travel rules: “I call on all French to show the same kind of responsibility as they have been showing throughout the crisis.”
While France is hoping to open its borders to visitors from many European countries, this will not include Britain, as a 14-day quarantine rule is set to come into force on June 8th.
Caravan lovers in the UK will be looking to see how other countries manage the reopening of sites as it may inform the ways in which it is handled here.
