Italy eagerly awaits non-European tourist arrivals, but few expect dramatic changes

The borders of the European Union opened to visitors from beyond Europe Wednesday. Operators from Italy’s beleaguered tourism industry are hoping the date proves to be the start of the sector’s much-needed recovery.

Italy’s tourism industry is normally among the country’s most reliable economic drivers. But the national coronavirus lockdown put into place in early March meant tourism disappeared.

Wednesday’s milestone was the latest in a series of loosening of travel restrictions. On May 18, bars and restaurants were allowed to reopen as long as they respected social distancing rules, and on June 3 Italians were first allowed to move between regions and visitors from most European countries could come to Italy without restrictions.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Tourism noted that more than 100,000 Italian families used their tourism bonus of up to 500 euros (563 U.S. dollars). But analysts say the tourism sector needs international tourists to survive.

The new rules allow visitors from parts of the world where the coronavirus outbreak is considered to be under control to come to Europe.

Among countries whose nationals can visit are Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity. Not on the list — at least not at first — are travelers from Russia and the United States.

“I hope we’ll look back and recognize this point as the beginning of a new phase,” Mara Manente, director of the International Center for Studies on the Economics of Tourism at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice, told Xinhua.

Manente said that last year Venice, where she lives, got 88 percent of its visitors from outside Italy. Other regions that depend heavily on international tourism include Lazio, the region that includes Rome; the southern island region of Sicily; and Tuscany, the region that includes Florence.