COVID-19 Disrupts Summer Travel Plans for French-Moroccan Families

Summer vacations are the subject of debate among young residents of the Hélène residence. "Dad tells me we’re going to Italy, Morocco or maybe Turkey," says one of them. But he is pessimistic. "I don’t really believe it because of the coronavirus," he adds.

"Usually there are a lot of children who go on vacation in the country of origin of their parents or grandparents," comments the (PCF) mayor of Montataire, Jean-Marc Bosino. "But this year, the virus has prevented them from doing so."

While it is true that European countries are gradually reopening their borders, the health crisis related to Covid-19 is not yet a thing of the past. In Morocco, the authorities have extended the closure of air, sea and land borders until August 10.

Faced with the impossibility of going abroad on vacation, several families want to discover the French regions, reports Le Parisien. Except that the means are not there. "This summer, we’re staying home," declares a resident of Mouy. This year, she and her three children will not be able to spend their vacation in Algeria as in the past.

For his part, Thierry Aury, general secretary of the PCF Oise, is making an appeal. "We need a determined public action to advance the right to vacation. So many families are deprived of vacation due to the economic and social crisis," he says.