Top spots seek to woo back wary travellers

Some of the world’s most popular holiday destinations are seeking to reassure travellers they remain open despite the spectre of coronavirus.

Italy, the European epicentre of the illness, is reminding visitors that it “is a safe country”; it stressed that only 11 out of 7,904 Italian cities are affected.

In Milan, near the area where the Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel, the tourist board has declared the Duomo is open, and that bars have returned to normal opening hours to allow for the traditional aperitivo hours to resume.

Tenerife, where a hotel was placed on lockdown after a number of guests tested positive for the virus, said there is now “complete normality”.

Further afield, Australia and New Zealand are devising strategies to attract British and American visitors; the island of Tasmania is poised to launch a campaign to increase its share of overseas travellers from the west. Tourism New Zealand has been awarded an additional $10million (£4.88million) to promote the country, and intends to launch a UK campaign.

There are tempting deals as demand falls. Hotel comparison website Trivago said the average cost of a

Rome hotel stay is down 40 per cent year on year, Paris down 19 per cent, Singapore 54 per cent and Hong Kong 69 per cent.

The mood in Milan, page 7 Holiday deals, page 9

at the financial analysts, Equals.

Another issue raised by Flybe’s collapse was the impact on regional travellers. The airline, which served Jersey and Guernsey, operated as much as 90 per cent of all flights out of Southampton airport and 80 per cent for both Exeter and Belfast City.

Joanne Dooey, president of

Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association, said it was a “disastrous blow” for regional connectivity. “The best outcome would be for another carrier to step in and provide these services, which provide essential connections for businesses, communities and tourism,” she said.

She called for the Government to reduce Air Passenger Duty in the Budget, to encourage airlines to introduce flights to more UK airports.

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Information correct as of Thursday 8pm. For the latest advice, see gov. uk/coronavirus. For more news, see telegraph.co. uk/coronavirus