Abroad Territories to Get Help to Assist Tourism
The French government announced new measures to support the retail and ship repair and maintenance sectors in the French overseas territories, which have been hard hit by the current health crisis.
The government announced last week that it would take new measures in support of tourism businesses in overseas, France. The retail and ship repair and maintenance sectors can now benefit from the “reinforced” solidarity fund previously applied to hotels and restaurants.
These measures will apply “from February 1, 2021”, according to a joint statement by the overseas minister Sébastien Lecornu and the small and medium-sized enterprises Alain Griset, as well as the Secretary of State for Tourism, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne. They are therefore retroactive and cover the entire period in which the ultra-marine areas suffered from tightened health regulations.
In the areas where tourism is a significant part of the economy, the introduction of a compulsory seven-day check-in and the restriction of travel to only compelling reasons since the end of January have halted tourist flows at the height of the season.
Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, and French Polynesia are eligible for the new aid. “Companies in the retail and ship repair / maintenance sectors that have lost more than 50% of their sales due to the decline in tourist numbers can now benefit from the ‘strengthened’ solidarity fund,” the statement said.
The beneficiaries have the choice between compensation for sales losses of up to 10,000 euros within the limit of 80% of sales or compensation of 15 to 20% of sales of up to 200,000 euros per month, regardless of the size of the company.
These new measures expand the aid already provided by the state, the statement said: “A total of 5 billion euros was made available to companies in the overseas territories since the beginning of the crisis, including nearly 500 million for the accommodation and catering sector.
“Companies from the hotel, restaurant, tourism, events, sports and culture sectors (as well as companies from related industries) that have lost more than 50% of their sales are already benefiting from the” strengthened “solidarity fund, regardless of their size.” Recalls the statement.
Companies in other sectors that suffer a turnover loss of more than 50% can benefit from the solidarity fund “Ordinary Law” up to 1,500 euros per month, provided they employ fewer than 50 people, the text adds. Exemptions from social security contributions, partial activities and the state guaranteed loan remain available under the same conditions as before.
