On the border between Switzerland and Italy, June 2. - FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Italy reopens its borders to European and European tourists Wednesday, a month after the gradual resumption of activity in the country which hopes to approach the summer to save its tourism industry, a key sector of its economy undermined by the pandemic . But tourist sites, such as hoteliers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, restorers, fear that tourists will not be this year for Italy, one of the European countries most affected by the pandemic where the new coronavirus has killed more than 33,500 people, with Lombardy (north) as the European epicenter of the epidemic.

The government also authorizes this Wednesday, June 3, free movement between regions, but the bans on large gatherings and the obligation to wear masks in enclosed spaces and on public transport remain. The health crisis "is not over" has warned Tuesday, National Day, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, who praised the "unity" of his country against "the invisible enemy".

Not reciprocal opening

Italy imposed an economic lockdown in early March and has seen the number of infections drop regularly since then. But the country is now facing the worst recession since the Second World War, and has a critical need to see tourists return. International flights are expected to resume on Wednesday only in three major cities - Milan, Rome and Naples - and the government fears that those who usually come to the peninsula from neighboring countries by car, train or ferry choose other destinations.

Switzerland has warned that its citizens who will travel to Italy from Wednesday will be subject to "health measures" upon their return. It will open its borders with Germany, France and Austria on June 15, but not with Italy. These Italian-specific measures prompted Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio to warn countries against treating his country "like a leper." He announced that he would travel to Germany, Slovenia and Greece over the weekend to convince them that Italy is a safe country for tourists. He is due to receive his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday.

Italian and Italian tourists in Italy?

Containment measures have had a devastating effect on the Italian tourism sector, which accounts for around 13% of gross domestic product (GDP). Restaurants, cafes and bathing establishments have slowly reopened in the past two weeks. But only 40 of the 1,200 hotels in Rome have reopened, the Corriere della Sera said on Monday , and only a dozen in Milan, their owners saying it is too expensive to reopen them if they remain empty.

The national tourism agency said that some 40% of Italians usually go abroad for their holidays, but that they could decide to spend their holidays on their land this year, which would help local businesses. .

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