Can Italy attract tourism again after the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020?
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| Can Italy attract tourism again after the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020? |
Lately, it's been exciting to discover Italy, hear the news, and hear Italians planning to open their business besides planning their summer vacation. After such a long time at home, few would like to have a “home vacation”. At this point, most people are already optimistic about the summer and wonder whether it would be better to go to the sea or the mountains in August. In addition, the government is even considering offering the citizens the "Buono Vacanze", which is a special discount of 500 euros with which they can pay for their trips back home. Everyone wants to revive Italy; As a result, many entrepreneurs in the restaurant, bar, hotel, and vacation industries are waiting with open arms for travelers from around the world.
But first; Italy must open up! Stylists, hairdressers, sports clubs, and other beauty centers prepare by disinfecting everything and making sure people are the correct distance of one meter from each other, even if that means only serving one client at a time. Everything must be prepared for both foreign and Italian tourists who will soon be returning to the spas to relax in beautiful Italy. These globetrotters are asked to ask how stores were disinfected and whether they use C-type UV lamps to sterilize their stores as everyone has the right to be properly informed.
We have already started enjoying the delicacies of Italy again! A few days ago we visited an excellent gelateria called Sotto Zero in Gattico-Veruno. There was a fairly long line of enthusiastic customers ready to order ice cream. Some had already placed their takeout orders online (or over the phone) and had just arrived for a quick pickup. Most customers who queued outside of the store maintained reasonable social distance and wore masks. Post-COVID-19 rules have been added to the right of the entrance in case some people have not been notified. The rules were as follows: everyone must wear a mask; Only one person can enter the glacier at a time. All should be kept within three feet of each other, and ice should be consumed off-site.
Not only did Sotto Zero serve delicious and legendary ice cream cones, but also vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options, which I preferred to gobble up than conventional ice cream. Italian ice cream has always been glorified, but this year's tourists can expect to find an even wider variety of options to please everyone in a frenzy. Not far from the usual Italian ice cream parlors, there are bakeries and pizzerias that make visitors euphoric as Italian cuisine is in abundance. Italians are determined to keep offering good food no matter what.
Italy is known for its exquisite designer jewelry. Tourists love to purchase gold bracelets, rings, crafts, and sterling silver. I remember how many tourists took photos of gold jewelry at a young age (in the 1980s) on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence and the craze continues to this day! A jeweler offers to disinfect all metal jewelry for every customer who wants to try on dazzling rings, bracelets, or necklaces. A box of Type C UV lamps can be used to keep your customers safe. Also, they have installed unique partitions that make users feel safe and comfortable. Without a doubt, shopping for jewelry will be a pleasure for vacationers in Italy this year.
It now appears that migrant farmworkers are needed to help harvest new crops. Italy welcomes migrant workers more than they did a year ago because migrants can do jobs that many young Italians can no longer do. In addition, migrants finally have the opportunity to work within the framework of the legal economy and receive certain benefits. Still, many Italians recently decided to return to agricultural production. Young Italians know that these professions are deeply rooted in the Italian tradition. Many older Italians entered agricultural work at the age of 14. Perhaps the recent growing interest in agriculture has been fueled by a global return to the emphasis on healthy eating.
Restaurants and bars are different from the way we remember them before COVID-19. Bringing a bag or a tray was unthinkable in 2019. In m
I remember dining in great restaurants in Rome that had meals served in a specific order. First, there was an appetizer, followed by antipasti (sometimes fried calamari). Then there was the usual starter (classic pasta). The second course consisted of a protein dish like fish and two types of vegetables or a salad. Dessert followed, usually fruit, tiramisu, wreaths, or some other light sweet treat. A subdued atmosphere by candlelight enhanced the pleasant experience. These classic types of meals with great staff will continue as long as customers are willing to abide by social distancing rules and the use of protective barriers. If guests prefer, they can be content with taking away.
Another takeaway will be a big change in a country that is used to defending itself when needed. Some Italians are already considering ordering their romantic wedding anniversaries to take away. However, if couples are determined to dine out, they will find that the tables are largely separate this year, unlike in the past when people ate pizza at a table shared with the locals. Many restaurants have already installed plexiglass in the middle of the tables to protect consumers from the coronavirus. One wonders how bottles of wine and bread baskets fit between customers (if there is plexiglass in between), but it would be a good excuse to order the wine of your choice instead of your partner. .
Travelers shouldn't expect kisses and hugs from overly friendly Italians this summer. Italians are alone these days and practice social distancing as much as possible. A few years ago, Italians were not known for distancing themselves, on the contrary in such a friendly nation, which is why almost everyone is still talkative and amiable today. Visitors should expect to answer lots of questions about what brings them to Italy and the locals are likely to help them out if they get lost and need to understand the sender's instructions, even if they don't speak the language. Most Italians tell visitors that their cuisine is the best in the world and that Italian fashion is the highlight. Of course, thousands of tourists long to visit Italy and really appreciate everything Italy has to offer: the art, the culture, the music, the food, and the attitude to get up and go.
Laura Gail Sweeney, Ed.D., has degrees in Italian Language and Culture, English, Arts, and Education. In 1988 she received a BA in Italian Language and Culture from Middlebury College (Vermont, USA). She traveled to Cortona twice with the University of Georgia and studied for over a year at L'Universita 'per Stranieri in Perugia. Sweeney loves to explore Italy and visit big cities like Rome and Florence. She has already done a book promotion tour in Milan, Turin, Bologna, and Rome.
Another takeaway will be a big change in a country that is used to defending itself when needed. Some Italians are already considering ordering their romantic wedding anniversaries to take away. However, if couples are determined to dine out, they will find that the tables are largely separate this year, unlike in the past when people ate pizza at a table shared with the locals. Many restaurants have already installed plexiglass in the middle of the tables to protect consumers from the coronavirus. One wonders how bottles of wine and bread baskets fit between customers (if there is plexiglass in between), but it would be a good excuse to order the wine of your choice instead of your partner. .
Travelers shouldn't expect kisses and hugs from overly friendly Italians this summer. Italians are alone these days and practice social distancing as much as possible. A few years ago, Italians were not known for distancing themselves, on the contrary in such a friendly nation, which is why almost everyone is still talkative and amiable today. Visitors should expect to answer lots of questions about what brings them to Italy and the locals are likely to help them out if they get lost and need to understand the sender's instructions, even if they don't speak the language. Most Italians tell visitors that their cuisine is the best in the world and that Italian fashion is the highlight. Of course, thousands of tourists long to visit Italy and really appreciate everything Italy has to offer: the art, the culture, the music, the food, and the attitude to get up and go.
Laura Gail Sweeney, Ed.D., has degrees in Italian Language and Culture, English, Arts, and Education. In 1988 she received a BA in Italian Language and Culture from Middlebury College (Vermont, USA). She traveled to Cortona twice with the University of Georgia and studied for over a year at L'Universita 'per Stranieri in Perugia. Sweeney loves to explore Italy and visit big cities like Rome and Florence. She has already done a book promotion tour in Milan, Turin, Bologna, and Rome.