JEK
Senior Insider
THE POSSIBLE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 CONCERNED
by V.A 05/03/2020
Coronavirus cases on the island at the start of the busiest month in terms of tourism activity. Sunday and Monday, cruise lines and ferry tourists canceled their stopovers in Gustavia. A few weeks before the Bucket, socio-professionals are worried.
On Sunday and Monday, the stopovers of the cruise ships Seadream 1 and Seadream 2 were canceled. Not by the company directly but by the cruise lines themselves, the boats being rented through charter companies. A ferry taking visitors from St. Martin also gave up on Monday morning. An American tourist immediately warned Internet users on the TripAdvisor site.
After the confirmation of several confirmed cases of coronavirus in Saint-Barthélemy Sunday, the first announced of the Caribbean, the concern seized the tourism professionals on the island. Here as outside, we follow the evolution of the situation before taking any decision or reaching a conclusion. However, the great energy of the tourist season is wavering, if not because of the virus, because of the atmosphere of anxiety that it carries. Moreover, the Collectivity preferred to postpone Dominique Rousserie's exhibition at the museum, whose opening was scheduled for this Saturday evening; not for health reasons, but because of the ambient atmosphere which is not conducive to partying
"We didn't need that," said Nils Dufau, president of the Tourism Committee. He immediately contacted the CTTSB communication agencies in Brazil, the United States and Paris, in order to give “truthful, precise and pragmatic information to our customers. The frenzy that goes around could do more damage than the virus itself! It is important to be reactive, to be in the true-speak, to explain as the situation evolves. Our customers are not panicking too much at the moment, but want to be informed. The American tourist (for example) feels confident when he learns through official channels rather than through the “rumor channels” of social networks… In the event that there are other people soon infected with the virus on our territory, we will make sure to communicate on their gradual returns to good health. This is very much appreciated by our potential tourists: the gradual return to normal of the people affected. ”. The Saint-Barth agenda is busy: Bucket Regatta from March 19 to 22, Voiles de Saint-Barth from April 12 to 18, and Transat AG2R-La Mondiale whose departure will be given on April 19 from Concarneau. For the moment nothing is compromised. “My dearest wish is of course that it will continue. We will adapt. It will have to be seen day by day, according to the evolution of things. "
If the contamination is confined to the three cases announced, the effect of the coronavirus on tourism in Saint-Barthélemy will undoubtedly remain limited. For the moment the cancellations remain marginal, and they were decided hot, just after the first confirmation of cases. If other cases arise, the situation could worsen. The ARS daily bulletins are therefore eagerly awaited, and patience is required.
by V.A 05/03/2020
Coronavirus cases on the island at the start of the busiest month in terms of tourism activity. Sunday and Monday, cruise lines and ferry tourists canceled their stopovers in Gustavia. A few weeks before the Bucket, socio-professionals are worried.
On Sunday and Monday, the stopovers of the cruise ships Seadream 1 and Seadream 2 were canceled. Not by the company directly but by the cruise lines themselves, the boats being rented through charter companies. A ferry taking visitors from St. Martin also gave up on Monday morning. An American tourist immediately warned Internet users on the TripAdvisor site.
After the confirmation of several confirmed cases of coronavirus in Saint-Barthélemy Sunday, the first announced of the Caribbean, the concern seized the tourism professionals on the island. Here as outside, we follow the evolution of the situation before taking any decision or reaching a conclusion. However, the great energy of the tourist season is wavering, if not because of the virus, because of the atmosphere of anxiety that it carries. Moreover, the Collectivity preferred to postpone Dominique Rousserie's exhibition at the museum, whose opening was scheduled for this Saturday evening; not for health reasons, but because of the ambient atmosphere which is not conducive to partying
"We didn't need that," said Nils Dufau, president of the Tourism Committee. He immediately contacted the CTTSB communication agencies in Brazil, the United States and Paris, in order to give “truthful, precise and pragmatic information to our customers. The frenzy that goes around could do more damage than the virus itself! It is important to be reactive, to be in the true-speak, to explain as the situation evolves. Our customers are not panicking too much at the moment, but want to be informed. The American tourist (for example) feels confident when he learns through official channels rather than through the “rumor channels” of social networks… In the event that there are other people soon infected with the virus on our territory, we will make sure to communicate on their gradual returns to good health. This is very much appreciated by our potential tourists: the gradual return to normal of the people affected. ”. The Saint-Barth agenda is busy: Bucket Regatta from March 19 to 22, Voiles de Saint-Barth from April 12 to 18, and Transat AG2R-La Mondiale whose departure will be given on April 19 from Concarneau. For the moment nothing is compromised. “My dearest wish is of course that it will continue. We will adapt. It will have to be seen day by day, according to the evolution of things. "
If the contamination is confined to the three cases announced, the effect of the coronavirus on tourism in Saint-Barthélemy will undoubtedly remain limited. For the moment the cancellations remain marginal, and they were decided hot, just after the first confirmation of cases. If other cases arise, the situation could worsen. The ARS daily bulletins are therefore eagerly awaited, and patience is required.