the creation of a tourist zone makes it possible to open every Sunday in this town

The elected officials of Seine Normandie Agglomération justified their request in March 2024 and their wish was granted by the prefect of the Region in a decree published on October 23, 2024: a tourist area now exists in the territories of Vernon, Saint-Marcel, Giverny, Douains and Pacy-sur-Eure, in Eure.

As a reminder, the elected officials of the agglomeration had mentioned the idea of ​​creating this tourist zone in order to “improve the offer and attract more tourists”.

Benefit from a Sunday opening

“We have a rich cultural, natural and historical heritage. The goal is to benefit from Sunday opening outside of Sundays authorized by the prefect of Eure. To do this, we must benefit from a classification, then indicated Antoine Rousselet, SNA vice-president in charge of tourism and regional promotion. It will not have escaped your notice that the established zone includes the McArthurGlen Paris-Giverny Brand Village sector (open since April 2023, Editor's note). Indeed, this is where the main issue of this classification lies. »

One last point which had made squeak the left-wing opposition. The latter criticizing that this decision had “nothing to do with tourism but with the commercial interest of a large group”. The deliberation was nevertheless adopted by a majority.

Order of October 23

Requested by mail, the mayors concerned all issued a favorable opinion after deliberation in the municipal council.

Of the favorable opinions had also been donated by Eureka, the Department's attractiveness agency, the Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises of Eure.

The decision of the Prefect of Normandy was finally rendered in a arrested published on October 23, 2024. In the latter, it indicates: “Is created in the territory of the municipalities of Saint-Marcel, Vernon, Giverny, Douains and Pacy-sur-Eure located in the territory of Seine Normandie Agglomération in the department of Eure, a tourist area the perimeter of which is defined in accordance with the plan annexed to this decree. »

As explained above, this classification therefore now allows businesses to open on Sundays without prior request to the Prefecture.

“Retail establishments, located within the perimeter of the geographical area defined in Article 1, which make goods and services available, benefit from the option of granting their voluntary employees weekly rest on another day only on Sundays, on the imperative condition of being covered by a collective or territorial agreement or, failing that, in establishments employing fewer than eleven employees, by a unilateral decision of the employer”, specifies the regional prefect.

Good news

On the SNA side, the news was pleasantly received.

“I think it's a good news. Beyond that, tourism means safeguarding employment in the region. Greater opening requires more jobs and an attractiveness of the place which must prove itself. I hope it will be a success, at a time when Internet commerce is developing, we are going through economic turbulence and we must put all the chances on our side,” rejoices Antoine Rousselet.

For the latter, the creation of the tourist zone “goes in the right direction”.

Of course, working on Sundays can be complicated, but outside of collective agreements in the hotel and catering industry, these are days which are doubly paid. There are companies that offer very serious positions and training on this site (McArthurGlen, Editor's note).

Finally, for the elected official in charge of tourism, this novelty could encourage tourists to consume differently.

“Among this mass of tourists, there are not only consumers but also curious people who will still take advantage of their visit to give it a more cultural purpose and not limit themselves to consumption,” he concludes.

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