Italy looks to the Greek model, and thinks about Covid-free islands. This is the idea put in place for the restart of , an essential activity for our country. Suffice it to say that, in 2019, arrivals were 127,5 million and presences 434,1 million. Hence, the idea of the Minister of Tourism Massimo Garavaglia: vaccinate those who live and / or work in holiday resorts, so as to guarantee safe stays. To tourists, but also to residents.
Covid-free islands: Italy's plan
The idea comes from Greece: create Covid-free islands to save tourism. The government is said to be working on an ad hoc vaccination plan for workers and residents of the holiday resorts, so as to restart tourism. The islands concerned, if you were to actually leave, would be: Capri, Ischia, Sorrento, the Egadi, the Pontine, the island of Elba and Giglio, but also the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. These destinations are much loved by Italian tourists but also by foreign tourists. "We too have beautiful islands on which to apply similar interventionsGaravaglia said, referring to the Greek model. And explaining how, abroad, the attention towards our tourist resorts is high. The English look to our seaside destinations, the American they start booking for August. And if France aims to reopen July 14 (French national holiday), and the United States on July 4 (independence day), Italy intends to reopen on the day of the Italian Republic Day (2 June). Could Covid-free islands be a reality by that date? What is certain is that in 2020 tourism resumed on May 18. And the vaccine plan did not yet exist.
The first Covid-free islands in Italy
The idea, although still embryonic today, is to initially vaccinate residents and workers of the smaller islands: Panarea, Alicudi, Filicudi, Marettimo, Favignana, Levanzo, Lampedusa, Linosa, Isola dei Conigli. Due to their conformation and the small number of inhabitants, the Aeolian, egadi and Pelagia they are well suited to becoming Covid-free islands. For some time the councilor for tourism of the Sicily Region, Mimmo Turano, works in this direction. "Covid-free is the watchword to truly help the economy of our smaller islands. Immediately vaccinating the population of the Sicilian islands means protecting their health, but also giving the opportunity to these territories to get out of the crisis with their hands fighting on equal terms with the competition from Greece, which is already immunizing the inhabitants of the more touristy islands" he said. Then the pontine,Elba, Lily and the whole Sardinia.
The Greek model
Greece, which the Italian government looks to, started with its smaller islands. The first to achieve immunity was Castellorizo (where Salvatores shot "Mediterraneo"). Soon it will also be the turn of Marathi, Meganisi, Othoni and Kalamos. And then to Oinousses, Chios, Fourni, Psara, Thymaina and Kastos. Then we will move on to the islands with more than 1.000 inhabitants and - finally - to those with more than 3.500. In this way, Greece will create safe holiday havens. And it will restart tourism, to prevent the collapse of 2020 from happening again.
