The rise in new infections has not dissuaded all tourists from making their way to Luxembourg's camping grounds.
Despite a number of German travellers choosing to cancel reservations after Luxembourg was placed on the orange risk list by German authorities, many tourists are still opting to spend their summer holidays in the Grand Duchy. Among the number of campers are several Luxembourgers exploring their home country as part of a staycation.
Albert Hipp, director of Echternach's camping ground, said their German guests had left within the last week, but plenty of Belgian and Dutch tourists are continuing to stay on site. However, the campsite had received a lot of cancellations for stays booked last year.
Among the locals, the "Vakanz Doheem" motto has been taken to heart, with many choosing to book stays in their country of residence as a result. Hipp said the €50 voucher government scheme had been a great success thus far, seeing many reservations made by Luxembourgers making the most of their vouchers.
For a lot of campers, this will be their first time camping in the Grand Duchy, particularly as Luxembourgers are more likely to go abroad for their holidays. But Hipp said a lot of regular guests had chosen to return for summer 2020 in spite of the virus concerns. RTL spoke to some of these to discover their reasons for returning, which included the surrounding scenery, walks and nature, but also the fact they found it easier to maintain social distance in open spaces such as campgrounds.
With swimming pools and sportsgrounds reopening, and a host of activities still available in spite of the virus, the future is brighter than expected for campsites. However, entertainers have not been able to perform at full capacity due to new restrictions - instead, they have split into groups to provide entertainment to campsites around the country. The team has also adapted their programme to primarily offer outdoor activities for kids, including ball games and arts and crafts, while the campsites have offered up tents and seating to make this possible.
The good weather forecast for the next week will also no doubt help to give guests a wonderful time, whether young or old.
