Astoi Confindustria: “Eliminate the ban on tourism travel to all foreign countries”

It is necessary to lift the ban that prevents travel for tourism in all countries outside Europe, with a few exceptions. This is the request that comes from Astoi Confindustria. “As is the case with the few destinations already open – the so-called countries of the ‘D’ list – where it is possible to travel also for tourism with conditions perfectly in line with the need to guarantee safe travel”, Andrea Mele told Adnkronos. , vice president of Astoi Confindustria Viaggi which represents over 90% of the tour operating market in Italy. Conditions such as “the swab before leaving that asks for the country of arrival and the one before returning that asks for Italy, in addition to the tool of the green pass that 80% of Italians possess and that avoids quarantine for those returning from countries where you can travel. So – remarks Mele – we can’t understand why today we can only go to a few foreign countries outside Europe such as Dubai, but not to the Maldives or other destinations “. The situation is rather penalizing for Italy, explains Mele again. “There is a fundamental problem since all citizens of the main European countries can travel to certain countries and therefore foreign tour operators are gaining important market shares with suppliers while we are at stake. We are losing purchasing power and fundamental weeks. for our sector in view of Christmas and New Year’s trips “. Hence Astoi’s concern of “losing all winter for a ban that no longer makes sense”. But to this is added “the insult for us operators that we are the only ones to respect the prohibitions and not to sell packages for certain destinations. Today, in fact – explains Mele – any Italian can book a ticket for the Maldives on a portal that has no headquarters. in Italy and fly with foreign companies that fly from Italy because there are no controls “. Astoi speaks of “unjustified misalignment” with respect to other European states.