Italy's borders have been open to tourists again since June 3rd. EU citizens can now enter the country without having to go into quarantine. Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio is in favor of a cross-border summer vacation: "Let's work towards the fact that we can all start together again: June 15th is a bit European D-Day for tourism," he told Rai on Tuesday.
Austria has not yet lifted travel restrictions for Italy
Austria has not yet lifted travel restrictions to Italy – Germans are allowed to transit through. South Tyrol in particular is currently campaigning for holidaymakers from Germany. Hotels are already open and can be booked. However, strict distance rules apply. Compatibility even wants to offer tourists voluntary free corona tests. The regions of Veneto and Sardinia advertise that they are "covid-free" – meaning that the situation is under control, although of course there were also infections there.
In Germany: Travel warning is valid until June 14th
The worldwide travel warning still applies in Germany. Heiko Maas last extended it until June 14th. In time for the start of the holiday season, it will be lifted for many European countries from June 15th. Italy is one of them – provided the further development of the corona pandemic permits this.
Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas would then like to replace the travel warning with individual travel advice. This should make vacations possible and at the same time ensure economic stability in the respective countries. Italy would be convenient: alongside Turkey and Spain, the country is one of the most popular travel destinations for Germans.
Sufficient medical treatment options for locals and tourists are required
Consumer advocates, however, are calling for European hygiene rules to be as uniform as possible. They consider health protocols in hotels with distance rules to be necessary for the resumption of tourism. Buffets in hotels are prohibited. A wide range of disinfection options and sufficient medical treatment options for locals and tourists are also to be ensured.
Read all current developments in the corona pandemic in the FOCUS Online news ticker
Minimum distance for sun loungers, advance booking for beach bathing
Cafés, bars and restaurants as well as hairdressing salons and boutiques are open again in Italy. Visits to museums and libraries are also permitted. On June 15th cinemas, theaters and opera houses will also be allowed to open again. However, many concerts are canceled in the long term.
Distance rules apply to all activities. Masks are mandatory in closed rooms or where a minimum distance of one meter cannot be guaranteed.
On the beach, each parasol should have a space of ten square meters around it, as the "Tagesschau" reports. Sun beds without a parasol must be 1.5 meters apart and disinfected after changing ownership. Advance bookings for access to lido are designed to prevent people from huddling too close together.
Lufthansa is already flying to Rome and Milan again
Air traffic to Italy is currently still severely restricted. A few connections with Lufthansa, Alitalia and Eurowings continue. Lufthansa, for example, regularly flies to Rome and Milan. In mid-June, the German airline also plans to include Bologna and Venice in its flight program again. Most recently, Eurowings' unsuccessful attempt to fly two passengers from Düsseldorf to Sardinia despite a ban on landing had made headlines.
At airports and train stations, as well as in many other public places, travelers can expect a scanner to measure fever.
Colosseum, Vatican Museums: Italy's top attractions open again
June 1st is something of a resurrection day for Rome and tourism, if only symbolically: The Colosseum and the Vatican Museums are reopening.
When entering the museum, which is one of the most visited in the world, visitors must pass a thermal scanner. Disinfectant is available and masks are required. A reservation is also mandatory, groups can be a maximum of ten people.
Usually up to 27,000 people push through the magnificent halls every day. The museum director of the Vatican Museums does not expect a rush after the reopening on Monday. The administrators of the Colosseum, in front of which people usually jostle from early to late, also speak of "difficult months" and "surreal silence".
The President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, is optimistic. He promotes the visit to the UNESCO city of Venice and says: "We are ready to receive people from all over the world".
Return to Germany: Observe the rules for quarantine
Holidaymakers should familiarize themselves with the current regulations on re-entering Germany on the Federal Foreign Office's website before they travel. At present, only a 14-day quarantine is recommended for people entering Germany from an EU country with a high infection rate.
Corona virus in Italy
Italy is considered the Corona focal point of Europe. 32,955 died of respiratory infection in the country. As a measure, the Italian government introduced one of the strictest curfews worldwide. The country can slowly breathe again: The number of new infections decreased recently (as of May 27).
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According to a media report, Lufthansa and hundreds of other airlines are trying to delay the repayment of canceled airline tickets. 165 out of 180 airlines simply switched off the usually automatic reimbursement at the beginning of the corona crisis.
Summer holidays are getting closer, and it can also go to Mallorca or the Costa Blanca: After several other European countries, the most popular holiday destination among Germans has announced that it will open its borders to tourists from July. Lufthansa Mallorca is already approaching and the beaches are open to locals – a test run for the summer.
According to the Turkish Foreign Minister, German vacationers should be able to travel to Turkey again in the summer. "We are expecting our German friends for a safe and carefree vacation," says the ministry. The plans for entry, hotel and return to Germany are already in place. FOCUS Online shows whether and how a vacation in Turkey could look.