Summer is settling in New Caledonia and the adapted deconfinement has allowed, for a week, the resumption of tourist activities. In Yaté, customers returned to the Port-Boisée gite last weekend. The establishment will remain closed for six months.
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With the progressive deconfinement, tourist activities resume. In Yaté, the Kanua tera ecolodge has found its customers, following a particularly eventful year 2021. With regarding twenty covers, Sunday noon, 100% occupancy of the bungalows, Saturday, the clientele is back in Port-Boisé.
This situation boosts the morale of the owners, but does not yet make it possible to envisage the renovation of the four large bungalows. After six months of closure, due to conflict at the South factory and the two confinements, the coffers are empty. “I already have almost 20 million CFP francs in losses, compared to last year, so we have to wait for better days. As soon as we pass the bar of 38% to 40% of occupancy rate , we will be able to start work, but not before“, explains Eliane Atiti, owner of the place.
Waiting for the referendum
Another consequence of this turbulent period, Eliane had to lay off half of the staff, going from thirteen to five employees. The structure has held up thanks to aid from the State and the South Province, but it is now the tourists who make the lodging live.
“It’s important for us to still do local tourism, because certain sectors of activity have been ‘taken hostage’. We were able to maintain ourselves. So yes, we might as well enjoy the weekend with the children of places that are struggling to go up”, comments Lindsey Babin. Resident of Mont-Dore. Come at twelve, her friends and she have reserved four bungalows.
If business picks up, Eliane is careful not to claim victory. She knows from experience that referendum and tourism do not mix. “We feel it. The week before and the week following [le référendum], we already see in our schedules that the locals will not come to see us”, she observes. Optimistic but cautious, Eliane has prepared end-of-year packages. It will propose them or not, once the referendum has passed.