Riots in New Caledonia: uncertainty for tourists who want to return to France

 Riots in New Caledonia: uncertainty for tourists who want to return to France

The High Commission of New Caledonia shared this Tuesday, May 21, a form for tourists in large cities wishing to leave the archipelago plagued by riots. The date of resumption of air traffic is uncertain.

Since 5/13, New Caledonia's Tontuta International Airport has been inaccessible for almost 10 days due to riots that have affected the archipelago. As a result, foreigners and metropolitan tourists are stuck at their own expense since then, with a clear horizon of return. In the galley for a few days, sometimes very expensive and with a complete blur.

Between Tuesday and Wednesday 22, "one hundred" Australian and New Zealand nationals were evacuated using military aircraft after the military secured an airfield in downtown Nouméa. But what solutions are proposed for residents of the metropolis who want to leave New Caledonia?

"We pay 1 euro or more per 100 nights"

"No one will let us know. It's difficult personally and financially," laments Antoine, a Parisian from Auvergne who is stuck in Nouméa. "We pay more than 1 euro per 100 night and 1 euro for food per 50 days," he assures.

The High Commission announced on Tuesday that the arrival of "security reinforcements" will make it possible to establish "concomitant measures for French tourists residing outside New Caledonia."..Who wants to return to their home?"

"A flight chartered by the government allows the accompaniment of about 500 people," a foreigner or a French person specifies a press release.

"We talk about departures, we never talk about returns."

The person concerned must fill out the form and submit a flight ticket (outbound and return).の証明書とフランスのパスポートのコピーを次のメールアドレスに送信するよう求めtourisme-assistance@nouvelle-caledonie.gouv.fr ...

The conditions for the return flight are not yet known. Recruitment, the Ministry of Overseas Territories and the High Commission did not provide details about the conditions of these flights and pickups. It is also not specified conditions for the care of residents of New Caledonia stuck in France or elsewhere.

"We should also think about French people who have been left abroad for more than 1 week and want to return to New Caledonia," says the resident of Facebook's High Commission.facebook.At Com, it states:

"My wife has been stuck in Vietnam since 5/18 (...It is impossible to get information, we talk about the departure and will never come back," bothers another.

Evacuation has been designated to take place "within the next few days", but the return to these France or archipelago will probably be conditional, depending on the situation at Nouméa International Airport.

As Charles Roger, Director of the New Caledonian Chamber of Commerce (CCI) and platform manager, announced, the airport should remain closed for commercial flights until at least Saturday morning. But uncertainty remains, especially due to the arrival of Emmanuel Macron, whose presidential plane is supposed to land at midnight this Wednesday night.