The big Geneva holiday fire should drink the cup – Le Matin Dimanche

This has been the event at the end of the lake since 1947. The big Geneva fireworks display has survived the financial storms, but should not withstand the current crisis. The Geneva government has reportedly received a request to that effect from the organizer.

“As the supervising department, the Department of Economic Development (DDE) was contacted by the Geneva Tourism and Congress Foundation regarding the cancellation of the big fireworks,” said the DDE press service. The Council of State must naturally take up this question. “

The final decision will be made by the Executive on Monday. Behind the scenes, there is no doubt about the cancellation, given the health situation. Summer festivities are one after the other. But Genève Tourisme must ask for authorization to cancel because it is indirectly required by law. The text governing the canton’s tourism sector provides that it “organizes events of tourist interest”.

The convention of objectives specifying his tasks then enjoins him to organize a big fire until 2023. The rest of the celebrations have not taken place since last year, due to heavy deficits.
Genève Tourisme does not wish to communicate on its request. But spokesperson Hélène Lebrun explains that “the fireworks display brings together 400,000 spectators each year. It is one of the biggest events in Switzerland
French-speaking. As it stands, we don’t see how we can bring together so many people. ”

The absence of fire will have a strong impact on an entire sector which has suffered since the start of the crisis. “Our branch is already going through a dramatic situation. Most of my members will have shut down but, for those who are going to stay, it will be an additional ordeal, ”judge Laurent Terlinchamp, president of the Société des cafetiers, restaurateurs et hôteliers de Genève.

Finally, without fireworks, no showmen. Already confined to a Versoix (GE) car park, they fear that they will not be able to get out of their rides this summer. “It would be a blow, the Geneva holiday season is usually the most flourishing of the year,” said Willy Bourquin, dean of the fairgrounds at the end of the lake.

Created: 04.25.2020, 10:26 p.m.

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