Dare to dream of la dolce vita again as Italy opens up
14-day quarantine to be scrapped in bid to boost an economy reliant on tourism
ITALY will throw open its arms to tourists again from early June and scrap its 14-day quarantine period as it eases one of the strictest coronavirus lockdown regimes in the world.
The move, announced yesterday, is expected to lead to a resurgence in bookings by British travellers desperate for a taste of il bel paese after weeks of their own lockdown. As restrictions began to ease across Europe, the Italian government said that from June 3 all visitors will be allowed in with no requirement to self-isolate.
Italians will also be able to move between regions, though local authorities can limit travel if infections spike.
The Foreign Office currently warns against all but essential travel to Italy and travellers have been urged to check its advice before booking – and to anticipate a possible reimposition of travel restrictions if the country sees a second wave of infections.
An Abta spokesman said: “Italy is British holidaymakers’ third most popular destination, attracting over 3million of us each year. Many European countries are looking at reopening borders and restarting tourist services in a managed way and many Italy lovers will be pleased to see that Italy is preparing to welcome summer travellers. But travel will only recommence once the Foreign Office changes its advice.”
Giuseppe Conte, Italy’s prime minister, enforced strict measures from early March in a bid to stem the Covid-19 pandemic which has killed more than 31,500 people in the peninsula.
To the relief of many Italians, the beaches began to reopen this weekend and there were similar moves in France, where beaches were open for the first weekend since the country eased lockdown – though the government called for self-restraint and police warned they would break up crowds.
Greeks also flocked to the seaside yesterday, when more than 500 beaches reopened, coinciding with the first heatwave of the year.
Sunbathers are required to respect distancing rules, with no more than 40 people per 1,000 square metres and umbrella poles four metres with canopies no closer than one metre.
Italy never formally closed its borders and has allowed people to cross back and forth for work or health reasons, but it banned movement for tourism and imposed a two-week isolation period for new arrivals. The lockdown has had a devastating economic impact on a country reliant on the industry.
The reopening will also provide a boost to Italy’s agricultural sector, which is dependant on some 350,000 seasonal workers from abroad.
The peak of Italy’s contagion passed at the end of March but, with experts warning a second wave cannot be ruled out, Conte had been reluctant to lift the lockdown quickly. His approach led to frustration in many regions, with some already allowing businesses to reopen before the measures were lifted.
Following pressure, the government has allowed restaurants, bars and hairdressers to reopen tomorrow, two weeks earlier than initially planned.
However, dozens of restaurant owners protested outside Milan’s train station against the new rules for reopening and demanding more financial aid.
The government rules allowing restaurants to reopen include a distance of at least one metre between patrons, a requirement to take reservations and keep records for at least two weeks and a recommendation to use disposable or electronic menus that can be read on personal devices. It also suggests taking temperatures of diners on arrival.
Shops and mosques will also open tomorrow, but schools remain closed. Church services will begin, but congregations will follow social-distancing rules with empty holy water fonts.
In Milan alone 3,400 restaurants plan to open tomorrow, along with 4,800 bars, 2,900 hairdressers, 2,200 clothing stores and 700 shoe shops.
‘Italy is the third most popular destination for Britons, attracting over 3m of us each year’