PARIS, Aug 9 (KUNA) -- France's tourism sector lost 30 to 40 billion euros (USD 35 to 47 billion) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to French minister of tourism Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.
Tourism's income in France is usually 180 billion euros in normal times, including 60 billion euros coming from international tourism, Lemoyne said in an interview with Le Journal Du Dimanche newspaper on Sunday.
France receives 17 million foreign tourists every summer, while nine million French nationals travel abroad, he noted. He added that French people also help boost economy by going on local tourism.
The minister said France saw an encouraging boost in tourism last July, hoping August would be even better. However, he affirmed that the situation is fragile, as bookings may get cancelled, once a new coronavirus epicenter emerges in the country. (end) mjz.ag