The mayor visited the city of Lourdes (High Pyrenees) on Monday accompanied by the Minister of Tourism, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, and the Minister of Small and Medium-sized Enterprise, Alain Griset.
They met with local businesses and tour operators to announce an extension of a government bailout to stabilize several sectors of the economy heavily affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
The stopover occurs two days before the city prepares to host the annual pilgrimage that will see a drastic slowdown due to the absence of foreign tourists flocking to the region the year.
Lourdes is the place where it is said that the Holy Mother of God gave the impression 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, in masabielle Cave, in 1858. Pilgrims are invited to drink in the holy water fountain and sign up for 3 days of prayer. .
“Lourdes is a city that has been particularly affected by the economic crisis,” Le Maire told reporters, “some corporations waste up to 85% of their income. The city experienced a 70-80% drop in its usual activities.”
“We will expand the aid program in place for the tourism sector, adding through the expansion to large souvenir warehouses committed to the pilgrim,” he said.
The assistance program will cover the purchase of grocery shopping malls at the airport, the purchase of grocery and souvenir shopping malls, as well as translators and interpreters at airports.
Artists, river transport companies, the sports industry and companies labeled by quality regional products will also be eligible for the plan.
The aid package, which has been extended until the end of the year, includes a first payment of 1500 euros per month to alleviate a turnover loss of up to 50% compared to last year, and in all likelihood A time of payment of 10,000 euros “helps pay rent”, announces the mayor.
It also covers partial unemployment for sector staff until the end of the year and companies are exempt from paying social security contributions for the next 4 months.
The initial plan, presented on 14 May, also provides for state loans for tourism professionals worth approximately two hundred million euros.
In the new “seasonal” bailout, introduced on August 5, state-backed loans will be provided to Lourdes investors who did not comply with the original plan.