Italy drops all COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

According to the National Tourist Board of Italy, the country has decided to drop all COVID-19-related travel restrictions this week and allow visitors to enter the country without showing proof of vaccination, getting tested, or showing proof of recovery. 

The travel restrictions which were placed and followed by countries all over the world during the past 2 years of the pandemic have finally been lifted as the world slowly moves back to the pre-pandemic era.

From June 1st the new rules were put into effect which leads to Italy being more in line with other European countries that have also abandoned the pandemic-era travel rule like the United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, Ireland, and Croatia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation published on its website, “As of June 1, 2022, a Green Pass or equivalent certificate is no longer needed to enter Italy,” and “All Covid-19 related entry restrictions have been lifted.”

Before this new rule kicked in, tourists were obligated to show proof that they are fully vaccinated, had received a booster shot within nine months of entering the country, had recovered from COVID-19 within six months prior to the trip, or had to carry a negative COVID-19 test along with them.

The decision was welcomed a month after the restaurants, bars, and museums in Italy stopped requiring customers to show proof of vaccination to visit those places.

According to the National Tourist Board, though last month the European Union dropped its transportation mask mandate rule, Italy still made it mandatory for people to wear face masks on planes and public transportation until June 15. Even during any indoor performances in theatres, concert halls, indoor sporting events, and other entertainment venues like the cinemas or gaming arcades, people were required to wear Surgical masks.

 As the number of people travelling to different European countries has increased this summer, this decision was bound to come since Italy is a highly sought-after tourist destination.