Italy's 'bel paese' to throw open its arms to tourists again

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 is anticipated 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 announced on Saturday that from June 3 all visitors will be allowed in with no requirement to self-isolate.

Italians will also be able to move freely between regions, though local authorities can limit travel if infections begin to spike.

The Foreign Office currently warns against all but essential travel to Italy and travellers have been urged to check its advice before booking this summer - and to anticipate a possible reimposition of travel restrictions if the country sees a second wave of infections.

An Abta spokesperson said: “Italy is British holidaymakers’ third most popular destination, attracting over 3 million of us each year. Many European countries are looking at reopening their 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. 

“Even if British holidaymakers are welcomed back to Italy, travel will only recommence once the Foreign Office changes its travel advice, which currently advises against all but essential travel to all overseas destinations.”

Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte enforced strict measures from early March in a bid to stem the pandemic which has killed more than 31,500 people in the peninsula -  the highest death toll after the United States and Britain.

To the relief of many Italians the country’s beaches began to re-open this weekend, in advance of the country welcoming foreign visitors.

Simone Battistoni, whose family has been running the Bagno Milano beach concession in Cesenatico, on Italy's east coast since 1927, said: "It moves me to see these sunshades.”

There are similar moves to reopen to tourists in France, where beaches were open on Saturday for the first weekend since the country eased its lockdown - though the government called for self restraint and police warned they would break up any gatherings.

Greeks also flocked to the seaside on Saturday, 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.

Austria also took an important symbolic step on Friday by reopening its restaurants and traditional Viennese cafes.

"We missed it and we're going to come back as much as possible," said Fanny and Sophie, 19-year-old students waiting for breakfast at a cafe in the Austrian capital.

Although Italy never formally closed its borders and has allowed people to cross back and forth for work or health reasons, 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 heavily dependent on the tourism industry.

The latest decree will also provide a boost to Italy's agricultural sector, which relies on some 350,000 seasonal workers from abroad.

Farming lobby group Coldiretti said farms were already preparing to organise the arrival of some 150,000 workers from places including Romania, Poland and Bulgaria.

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 of Italy's regions, with some already allowing businesses to reopen before the restrictions were lifted.

Following pressure the government has allowed restaurants, bars and hairdressers to reopen on Monday, two weeks earlier than initially planned.

However, dozens of restaurant owners protested on Saturday outside Milan's main train station against the new rules for reopening, which they say remain unclear.

Holding up signs reading: ''I won't open today to close tomorrow," they called for a reduction in taxes and more concrete help.

The government has announced rules allowing restaurants to reopen, including 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 recommends but does not require taking temperatures of diners as they arrive.

Shops will also open from Monday and Italians will finally be able to travel to see friends, as long as they live within their same region.

Church services will begin again (see picture below), but congregations will have to follow social distancing rules and holy water fonts will be empty. Mosques will also reopen, although gatherings of large groups remain banned and schools remain closed.

In Milan alone, Italy's financial capital, 3,400 restaurants plan to open Monday along with 4,800 bars, 2,900 hairdressers, 2,200 clothing stores and 700 shoe shops.

In a Facebook video on Saturday Milan’s Mayor Giuseppe Sala said: "After a long period at home, we will all want to go out and have a good coffee in a bar, eat a pizza in a pizzeria, buy a pair of jeans, or go to the hairdressers." 

The Italian government has thrown a lifeline to its hard-hit tourism sector by offering incentives for nationals to take their holidays in Il Bel Paese (The Beautiful Country) this summer.

The holiday bonus will be given to families with a household income of less than €40,000. Families of three people or more will be entitled to €500, while couples will be given €300 and single people will receive €150.