The anti-Covid-19 restrictions decrease, vaccines increase and many Italians are already thinking about summer holidays. Summer will be a crucial period for the country's recovery. The hope is that the improvement of the epidemiological situation and the consequent loosening of the barriers imposed on travel nationally and internationally, manage to revive tourism, a sector battered by the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic which contributes significantly to our GDP. Not surprisingly, the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza, signed an ordinance which from May 16 eliminates the mandatory quarantine for entry into Italy from European Union and Schengen area countries, as well as from Great Britain and Israel. A double negative swab will be enough to come to our country. The purpose of the measure is clear: favor the arrival of foreign tourists and encourage them to spend part of their summer holidays in our country.
If, however, despite the easing of restrictions, according to analysts it is probable that incoming flows from abroad will remain reduced this year as well, the contribution of internal tourism will be fundamental. And this is where the Italians come into play. According to a survey carried out by SWG and Confturismo-Confcommercio, they are almost 9 million Italian citizens who have already planned their holidays summer. Vaccines permitting, obviously, because the risk of having to make boosters in the summer could jeopardize all projects. On the other hand, there are 16 million, between those who have yet to decide and those who already know they will have to give up, those who are missing compared to pre-Covid times.
Of those who have already chosen vacations, the report indicates, 80% will remain in Italy. The favorite destinations are once again the seaside resorts, with Puglia and Sardinia in the lead, followed by "territories with a more complex offer such as Tuscany". However, despite the difficulties, some have no intention of giving up their holidays abroad, indeed compared to April, "confidence in the vaccination process and the expectation of the European green pass" has made the share of Italians who will choose a destination across the border for their holidays, above all Spain and Greece.
Moving on to the most popular periods, 60% of those interviewed plan to go on holiday between the second half of July and August while September and the first fifteen days of July together do not reach 24% of the preferences: a return to "seasonalisation" which, according to Confturismo, is not good for tourism, especially if the flows of foreigners continue to be absent.
Luca Patanè, president of Confturismo-Confcommercio declares: “This is one crucial phase, in which we play everything: not just summer 2021 but our competitive positioning for the coming years on the global tourism scene. It takes quick choices, ahead of the competition, and teamwork. Decisions on how to reopen to tourist flows, especially international ones, with which tools, timing and messages, must arise from the comparison between institutions and categories, as has been done for months in other countries. A second summer with few foreigners and Italian tourists concentrated in a single month is exactly what must be avoided at all costs".
