We are open again and welcome British tourists this summer, says Italy ambassador

Raffaele Trombetta, Italy's ambassador in London, says Italy is 'ready to greet British tourists'
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Italy's ambassador in London has appealed to British tourists to go to his country this summer, declaring: “We are open. We welcome them.”

Raffaele Trombetta said that Italy was admitting visitors from this country in the same way as other parts of Europe and every precaution was taken to ensure people stayed safe.

He also expressed hope that the 14-day quarantine which Home Secretary Priti Patel is imposing from Monday will be dropped for people returning from Italy before the end of June. But he said that Italy was ready to greet British tourists regardless.

“We know that Italy is one of the favourite destinations of English tourists so we would like them to go,” he told the Standard. “We welcome them and we hope that they are going to Italy. We are open again to the UK, to the EU and Schengen countries.” Mr Trombetta said there was “free movement” around the country once tourists arrived, although social distancing and other protective measures were being taken.

He added: “You arrive the normal way. There are thermal scanners that randomly take temperature but otherwise that’s it. If by any chance you have any temperature or symptoms you have to self-isolate but otherwise it’s free. We want to take all the precautions that can make you feel safe.

“Not only at the airport, in the different regions, the resorts… It’s in the interests of the local authorities — the toughest ones are the governors, the presidents, the regional authorities, town halls — because they know if they have even any small outbreak of the virus it will be a disaster for them.”

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Mr Trombetta added it was “looking very improbable” that tighter restrictions would have to be re-imposed in Italy. The country’s death toll and infection rates have since fallen below Britain’s, however, and Mr Trombetta said he hoped this meant the Government’s quarantine restrictions would be dropped for people flying in from his country.

Elsewhere, the European Commission’s home affairs commissioner Ylva Johnsson said EU borders should be opened before the end of June.

Meanwhile, Spain’s tourism minister Maria Reyes Maroto said her country is “itching” to welcome back UK holidaymakers. She did not say when Spain would open its borders to Britons, but added: “We are looking forward to welcoming British holidaymakers.”