Gondolas will be able to start sailing through the Venetian canals, lovers will play Romeo and Juliet on the balcony in Verona, and from Monday, the Roman Colosseum and Vatican Museums will once again welcome visitors. However, hoteliers and restaurateurs fear that Italy will not be the first choice for tourists this year, as the country is one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic in Europe, with over 33,500 deaths.
Restaurants and cafes have slowly begun to open over the past two weeks, but only 40 out of 1,200 hotels in Rome have started receiving guests, reported the Corriere della Sera on Monday. In Milan, only about ten hotels have opened. Their owners say it is too expensive to open them if they will remain empty.
From Wednesday, the government also allows free travel among Italian regions, but the ban on large gatherings and the obligation to wear masks in enclosed spaces and public transport remains. On Sunday, renowned doctor Alberto Zangrillo sparked controversy by claiming that the virus has disappeared and that it is time to stop uselessly 'terrorizing' the population. This provoked a response from authorities and other scientists, some of whom warn that it is too early to allow travel between regions and open borders.
– The epidemiological crisis is not over – warned President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday on Republic Day, who welcomed the unity of the country against 'the invisible enemy'.
Italy imposed a complete lockdown in early March but will now face the biggest recession since World War II – making it crucial for tourists to return this summer. Those entering Italy from Wednesday will not have to undergo a two-week isolation.
