As France progressively eases its lockdown, Lille is looking to entice travellers back to its cobbled streets with a new health label for businesses catering to tourists.
The “Destination Clean and Safe” charter, a first in France and inspired by Portugal’s tourism agency, outlines 10 actions that establishments commit to following, including measures on disinfection, ventilation, social distancing, and heatwave measures.
The charter was developed following the first wave of the pandemic in June 2020 by Hello Lille, the city’s tourism agency, in collaboration with the municipality of Lille, Lille Metropole, the Institut Pasteur and the hotel industry.
So far, more than 200 players from the hotel, culture, shopping, tourism and events sectors have signed the charter.
Reassuring visitors
Chairman of Hello Lille, Michel Delepaul, said: “For the Lille destination, initiating this health charter approach meant, above all, recognising the need for reassurance from visitors during this period and mostly providing them an appropriate response, able to create a favourable mood to their discovery of our territory. It was also to recognise the value of the expertise of our local institutions, such as the Pasteur Institute, which is one of the world’s [leading] scientific research centres for the prevention of infectious diseases.”
The measure coincides with the announcement of a ‘Health Pass’ by the French government that will help the unlocking procedure currently taking place in France.
Since 19 May, shops, museums and theatres have been permitted to re-open across the country, along with outdoor bars and restaurants. From June 9, the French will once again be able to eat and drink inside establishments and trade fairs will recommence.
Summer of culture
The Health Pass – which will contain information on whether a person has been vaccinated, has recovered from a Covid-19 infection or has had a recent negative test – will help facilitate this process of reopening, the French government claims.
In anticipation, Lille Metropole already has some key cultural events in store. In collaboration with the Design Museum of Ghent, Lille will host the Colors, etc. exhibition at the Tripostal space this summer.
And since last month, art lovers can now wander the streets of the Metropole to discover masterpieces with a new Street Art Guide produced by Hello Lille and Editions Alternatives.
