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ITALY RE-OPENS TO travellers from Europe today, three months after the country went into coronavirus lockdown, with all hopes pinned on reviving the key tourism industry as the summer season begins.
Gondolas are ready to punt along Venice’s canals, lovers will be able to act out Romeo and Juliet on Verona’s famed balcony, and gladiator fans can pose for selfies at Rome’s Colosseum.
But there were fears many foreign tourists would be put off coming to a country still shaking off a vicious pandemic.
“Come to Calabria. There’s only one risk: that you’ll get fat,” the southern region’s governor Jole Santelli said on Sunday as the race began to lure big spenders — or any spenders — back to Italy’s sandy shores.
Italy was the first European country to be hit hard by the coronavirus and has officially reported more than 33,000 deaths.
It imposed an economically crippling lockdown in early March and has since seen its contagion numbers drop off dramatically.
With the country facing its deepest recession since World War II, it needs foreigners to return, and quickly.
But it is still reporting dozens of new cases a day, particularly in the northern Lombardy region, and experts warn the government may be being hasty in permitting travel between regions and abroad.
‘Like a leper’
International flights were only expected to resume in three main cities: Milan, Rome and Naples.
And there were concerns that those who usually come in by car, train or ferry from neighbouring countries would go elsewhere on their holidays.
Switzerland has warned its citizens that if they go to Italy they will be subject to “health measures” on their return. The country will open its borders with Germany, France and Austria on 15 June, but not with Italy.
Austria is lifting restrictions in mid-June with Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary – but again, not Italy, described last week by Vienna’s health minister as “still a hotspot”.
Other countries, such as Belgium and Britain, are still advising against, or forbidding, all non-essential travel abroad.
In Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs is continuing to advise against all non-essential travel to Italy.
In response to perceived anti-Italian sentiment, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio has warned countries not to treat Italy “like a leper”.
He said on Saturday he would be travelling to Germany, Slovenia and Greece to persuade them Italy is safe for foreign tourists.
Arrivals in Italy from Europe will not be required to self-isolate unless they have recently travelled from another continent.
Too expensive
Italy’s lockdown has had a particularly devastating effect on the tourism sector, which amounts to some 13% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Historic sites were shut, restaurants closed, and hotels were used to care for coronavirus sick.
Restaurants, cafes and beach establishments have slowly reopened over the past two weeks – although the government has said it reserves the right to impose localised lockdowns if it sees contagion numbers rise.
But only 40 of Rome’s 1,200 hotels have reopened, the Corriere della Sera newspaper said Monday, and just a dozen in Milan. It costs too much to open them if they will just stand empty.
“My hoteliers all want to reopen, but as long as the borders remain closed, it’s not possible,” Marco Michielli, deputy head of hoteliers’ association Federalberghi, said Saturday.
Italy’s national tourism agency (ENIT) said some 40 percent of Italians traditionally travel abroad for their holidays, but could be forced this year to vacation at home, helping local businesses.
That may be little comfort to those running the country’s costly historic sites, because most of the tens of thousands of visitors that usually flock daily to the Tower of Pisa, Pantheon or Pompeii come from abroad.
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Only after we’ve defeated the alien invasion
Is it time Ireland had its own Independence Day? Don’t you mean
Is it time republic of Ireland had its own independence day.. considering the north of Ireland is still under British rule. The island of Ireland is not fully independent…
This country has only two names as written in the 1937 constitution: Eire or Ireland. The Republic is only what we happen to be, it’s not the name of the state
Should the journal.ie have a poll every day…. O wait they do!
Another St Pass Up day it is then…
@DonaldsFriedChicken: ..poor articles…and the pole thing is stupid .Shall we start making them up for the craic…
GERRY ADAMS DOG ATE MY HAMSTER AND ARLENE FOSTER TURNED OUR HEATING OFF….SI WE ARE SITTING HERE, NO HEAT & NO HAMSTER
..lets have poll..WHO LIKES HAMSTERS ? …………. snore zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Until the 6 counties are formally recognised as patt of a United Ireland then we can have our Independence day.
@Kev Creed: A bit like Korea, having one and let’s all have one for the Craic?
I don’t think FIFA will let us.
@Mick Power: sure were not independent yet.remember the six
Christina you on the wine, which part of the United Ireland are you living in………
id prefer to have a purge of leinster house and celebrate it afterwards, much more fitting and a great way to remind future lackies to do their job on behalf of the people not just selected “friends”
Thats precisely why the government doesnt want anyone remembering how this state came into being in the first place.
We don’t have independence…6 counties of our country are occupied by a foreign power.When our country is united then we can have an Independence Day celebration.
@Jim Osullivan: I and Ireland, the State and the Constitution, as well as International Treaties acknowledge and accept the legality and legitimacy of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Independence??? Since when? You mean semi-independence as 2/3 of Ulster are still under British occupation
@liam hayes: Vast majority of Irish people accept N.Ireland is part of the UK and can only be altered by consent & constitutional change within N.Ireland. Even former Provos now acceot this therefore N.Ireland is not occupied by Britain but one of the constituent provinces/nations of the United Kingdom.
So what? The point is that the whole country isn’t independent
@AR Devine:
Nonsense argument. Ireland was partitioned against the will of the people at the threat of an “immediate and terrible war” and in the intervening year, we as a collective people, have been refused the opportunity to vote as one to right that disastrous wrong.
It’s so ironic that the date suggested was the inaugural session of the first Dail considering it consisted of Deputies from the whole of Ireland…
This is a premature request.
What independence?
@Mjhint: We got out of the handcuffs, ended up in the cell and next it’s the executioner.
Yes, we’re short on bank holidays anyway and what better excuse for a few pints in January than Là na Saoirse!
@Páidí:
“However, before you get excited, there’s no plan to designate it as a public holiday. This means no day off work.”
Who can afford pints in January? The Dáil could have the decency to make it a day off, in warm weather. Cheapskates.
Independence Day is a joke last time I looked at map Ireland has 32 counties ?. And four provinces that is when Independence Day should happen when country is as one but then again some people think Ireland stops at Dundalk ,Monaghan ,Cavan ,Sligo ,and Donegal joke
@marty1978: Where is this Donegal joke place?
@marty1978:@marty1978: No they dont. We are one island with two separate jurisdictions. Even Unionists recognise the geographical fact they are on the island of Ireland.
There’s a reason why Ireland has never had an established independence day. Because Ireland isn’t an independent, sovereign nation. The Irish Republic is still a work in progress, a pipe dream.
Like to see a United Ireland first
Best put in around that time of year where there are few bank holiday weekends.
The long stretch between January and St Patrick’s day is crying out for one.
@Old Gordon: Article says there’ll be no day off/
It won’t be designated a bank holiday so let me be the first to say – They can shove it up their arse.
Independent of Britain or Germany?
We’re governed by europe. What independence !
I would have said that the enactment of Bunreacht na hÉireann on 1st July 1937 would mark the start of what we now know as the Irish State. It’s also when the Sovereignty of the Irish people was first, truly realised in the modern era.
Of course the 100th anniversary isn’t 2 years away so it doesn’t suit the actual purpose here.
@John Considine: I think they should have it on my birthday.
@John Considine: I would not be inclined to skip over Saor Stait Eireann for many reasons, including legal. There was Free State Constitution and it did involve an assertion of sovereignty. It followed the War of Independence.
@John Considine:
“It’s also when the Sovereignty of the Irish people was first, truly realised in the modern era.”
Forgetting about the a little something? Namely most of Ulster? Ireland’s people are not sovereign while we are partially ruled by Britain.
…and of course the weather might be good in July!
Not until reunification.
Were short six counties for full independence
Who will play Will Smith’s part ?
Get independent 1st.
Yea, sur we have to celebrate FG’s great recovery! (whenever its gonna happen????).
Independence Day? Before we’ve even won our independence? Ireland has 32 counties, not 26. Tom Clarke, the main organiser of the Easter Rising was from Tyrone – he didn’t fight for his own county to be excluded from an Irish Republic. Nor did any of his fellow patriots. An ‘Independence Day’ while six of our counties have been left behind? An insulting idea.
Celebrate FF’s Independence Day, no thanks.
We still don’t have independence. Maybe when we’re no longer Partitioned. Then all Irish people North and south can celebrate.
Only if we get Bill Pullman to announce it
Popcorn…Popcorn .. popcornnnnnnnnnnn everybody get your popcorn. 2 bags for a pound.
It seems a strange concept when all of our laws are subservient to the EU. Then there’s the question of control of the finances our country. Also who owns our industries and our media etc etc. You can add to the list yourself. From where I’m sitting it doesn’t look much like independence.
18th of April 1948 we became independent country
@Arthur Callaghan: it was an 1948 Act which came into force on the 18th April 1949.
@Arthur Callaghan:
Speaking as a Tyrone man, I can assure you that Ireland is still partly under foreign rule. We haven’t won our full independence yet.
not sure what ill make for dinner:
A -chips
B -mash
C -waffles
Yes when All of Ireland is free and not in January
Another excuse for people to set off fireworks and scare animals to death or worse, to set them alight….no thanks
we can celebrate it when we get it. we still have the cult of catlick meddling in state affairs
Why not have Labour Day and Thanksgiving?
Pardon a prisoner Day. Oh, wait, we seem to have those all year round.
Independent from what ?or whom ?
Can we not find something to commemorate that happened in the Summer? These winter/spring holidays are horrible!
Not in January, the summer would be better.
But it should be the summer.
@lez ferguson: No it can’t be
In the December 1918 election, the Irish republican party Sinn Féin won a landslide victory in Ireland. On 21 January 1919 they formed a breakaway government (Dáil Éireann) and declared independence from Britain.
Independence day on the 4th of July in the states is not the day the US got independence. We don’t need to have our independence day on some winters day and freeze our button off watching a parade when we can enjoy our independence day on a summers day with fireworks and barbecues and sunshine.
Fireworks and BBQs! How very ‘merikan’ .
should probably wait until the whole of ireland is united and independent first. wouldnt make much sense to have an independence day if they whole country aint free and independent
Ireland is the correct english name for southern Ireland as defined in the Irish Constitution not the republic of Ireland or Irish republic. Only found this out a couple of weeks ago… Always thought it was ROI or IR.
Another holiday and reason to get drunk? Why not
We’re a nation of sports Patriots. Get out the tricolor! Otherwise it’s a celebration for Paddy’s day and look like a bunch of cartoon characters. A genuine celebration of the Irish nation would be great. A celebration, not maudlin references to the dead. A celebration of Irishness, progress, our love of country!
Billy McGuire celebrates our Independence Day on 21 January at noon by turning the sovereign seal to excercise our sovereignty and our assets . This is done every year at the mansion house or ( Vaughan’s hotel ) . The government refused access to allow this celebration to be done last year which took us on the footsteps of the mansion house . 21st Jan 1919 was the start of our Independence Day by the IRB .
Sure, why not? Another bank holiday filled to the brim with alcohol and vomit lined pavements is precisely what the economy needs.
Should be 18th April, the anniversary of when we first became the Republic. If and when we get the 6 counties, the date should be changed to commemorate that day.
Might be worth celebrating a day like this as Irish people achieving Democracy as opposed to Independence per se
there’s 32 counties in Ireland is just a 26 county independence day? to hell with the 6 counties who didnt make the cut?
dont ever forget its a 26 county freestate not a Republic as enshrined within the proclamation,
January would be a crap month to be celebrating it anyway, we already have St. Patrick’s Day in a shitty-weather month. Can we have it in the summer instead?
Remember when we postponed St. Patrick’s Day because of Foot & Mouth to May, we got a cracking weekend of sunshine. Let’s do that again… leave St. Patrick’s Day for the Catholics and have a separate “Irish Day” to celebrate our culture, music, drinking, etc when the evenings are long and warm(Eric).
*warmer(er)
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