Italy introduced a five-day quarantine and mandatory testing for travelers coming from the U.K., in a move that will weaken an economic rebound reliant on summer tourism.
The announcement on Friday immediately hit airlines, with shares in low-cost carrier Ryanair Holdings Plc falling as much as 3.5% in Dublin. The U.K. is one of the biggest sources of travelers to Italy during normal times, though its role has been diminished as a rise in coronavirus cases slowed its travel reopening.
Britons will now have an easier time going to other popular European holiday destinations, such as Greece and Spain, which present fewer restrictions.
| U.K. Summer Destination | Requirements on Arrival |
|---|---|
| Italy | Quarantine for 5 days, mandatory testing |
| France | Those fully vaccinated are exempt, others need “serious” reason to come and present negative Covid tests |
| Portugal | Requires just a negative Covid test, no quarantine |
| Greece | No quarantine, negative tests needed |
| Spain | No quarantine, unrestricted access, negative tests needed |
Italy is responding to new Covid-19 variants that have engulfed the U.K. despite its fast rollout of vaccines. The deterioration was made more apparent after hosting the Group of Seven summit along the coast of Cornwall.
U.K. Setback
The rise in new infections also threatens Britain’s own re-opening to the rest of the world. There is a 10-day quarantine requirement for arrivals from the European Union including Italy.
Britain’s latest virus data remain consistent with analysis that shows two vaccine shots will keep about nine in 10 people who catch the disease out of hospitals. But it is a reminder that cases will still emerge even when vaccination reaches all adults.
Europe’s Beaches Reopen to Americans While British Have to Wait
The data were worrying enough to justify Italy’s decision that Britons are not welcome even after receiving two shots. The two countries are both hosts to major summits, with Italy leading the Group of 20 gathering this year.
“This decision is going to damage our business a lot,” Giuseppe Roscioli, chairman of Rome’s hotel owners association Federalberghi, said in a telephone interview. “I accept the fact that we need to be cautious. But why can’t we welcome fully vaccinated people?”
In 2019, more than 6 million Britons visited Italy, a country that relies on tourism for 13% of its economic output.
Italy’s latest rules reflect most closely those in Germany, which is the dominant economy in Europe though hardly reliant on tourism. Travel to Germany from the U.K. is subject to pre-departure digital registration and 14-day quarantine (with no exemptions and with no option to test out early, even if you’re fully vaccinated).
Itexit
Brits almost disappeared from Italy
Source: Bank of Italy
The move by Italy marks another challenge for the U.K. airline industry, which has already had to adjust to sudden changes in Britain’s border policy. Shares of EasyJet Plc and British Airways owner IAG SA also declined.
Carriers have shifted planes to the continent this month as the U.K. slowed its easing of border restrictions, removing Portugal from its so-called green list that allows for entry without quarantine.
— With assistance by Giovanni Salzano