France opens borders but tourists slow to return to beaches - slideshow

A week ago, France opened its borders to other EU countries, inviting travellers to come and enjoy the good weather, the scenery, the food – and to give a much needed boost to the battered economy. RFI's Jan van der Made visited the coast of Northern France to see if tourists were heeding the call. 

France's scenery and sunsets are waiting for everyone to see, but tourists still hesitate to enjoy. © RFI/Jan van der Made

Beach of Berck-sur-Mer, Nord Pas-de-Calais, on 15 June 2020. Although the beach opened two weeks ago and borders with EU countries allow tourists to come back to France, not many people are going to the sea yet. © RFI/Jan van der Made

A merry-go-round near the beach of Berck-sur-Mer. Tourists start to trickle in after lockdown restrictions were eased, but not as many as in a regular year. © RFI/Jan van der Made

The Ferris wheel at Berck-sur-Mer is turning again, but hardly any people are using it. © RFI/Jan van der Made

A couple and a dog enjoying a virtually empty beach at Berck-sur-Mer, 15 June 2020. © RFI/Jan van der Made

A mother and her daughter playing on the beach, Berck-sur-Mer, 15 June 2020 © RFI/Jan van der Made

The only tourists who do come in droves are the seals, enjoying the late afternoon sunshine at a low-tide sandbank near Berck-sur Mer, 16 June 2020. © RFI/Jan van der Made

In the evening, youngsters gather at the old Nazi bunkers on the beach of Berck-sur-Mer - part of the Atlantic Wall - which are now covered with graffiti. 16 June 2020. © RFI/Jan van der Made

After sunset, the bunkers provide a backdrop for evening hangouts of local youth of Berck-sur-Mer. 16 June 2020. © RFI/Jan van der Made

The cliffs near Ault, normally admired by droves of visitors, lay barren in the sunlight. © RFI/Jan van der Made

A lonely seagull hoping to catch some fish at the Treport harbour. Normally, tourists sit around eating fresh fish or buying oysters and shrimps, but the parking lot in front of the town's port-side fish store is almost empty. © RFI/Jan van der Made

Not business as usual yet. Wearing a face mask, this fishmonger in a fish shop in Le Treport serves a client. © RFI/Jan van der Made

Further north, in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, a traditional hideout for Parisians during summer months, streets are starting to fill up. In spite of the city's advice displayed on a banner hanging over the main shopping street, nobody is wearing a mask. © RFI/Jan van der Made

Banner at a shopping street in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage in the north of France, advising shoppers to "protect yourself, protect us, wear a mask". © RFI/Jan van der Made

This woman in a street in Le Touquet-Paris Plage is wearing a mask, following the city's advice as displayed on a picture. © RFI/Jan van der Made

On the beach of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, cabins are still empty. © RFI/Jan van der Made

A water slide in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, 18 June 2020. © RFI/Jan van der Made © RFI/Jan van der Made

Bikers prepare for a trip near Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, 18 June 2020. © RFI/Jan van der Made

Horse riders on the beach of Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, 17 June 2020. © RFI/Jan van der Made

Seagull in setting sun, Berck-sur-Mer, 18 June 2020. © RFI/Jan van der Made

Sunset at Berck-sur-Mer, 18 June 2020. © RFI/Jan van der Made