Capri, on the Bay of Naples in the Campania region, is often known as a favorite of high-end tourists. But this year, instead of promoting luxury hotels with stunning sea views, officials have pushed a simpler, but far more successful, message: everyone on the island has been vaccinated and the island is “Covid-19 free,” according to Vincenzo De Luca, the head of the Campania region.
"We are preparing to welcome millions of tourists, and prevent them from going to Spain or Greece for vacation. Now, the most important thing is not to waste time. The hotel industry must make a decision in May, otherwise we will lose the entire tourist season," De Luca said in a speech on May 8.
Capri is known as a luxury resort island.
Capri Mayor Marino Lembo said 80% of the island’s 15,000 residents had received their first dose of the vaccine. By mid-May, all tourism workers outside the island who regularly visit Capri were also vaccinated.
"This is a very strong message that we want to send to the whole world - You can come here in absolute safety," said Mr. Lembo.
Sergio Gargiulo, president of Federalberghi, an association representing around 60 hotels on the island, agrees: "Not only is Capri Covid-19 free, but for customers who need it, we can organise PCR tests and provide them with results promptly upon departure."
In 2020, the island's tourism industry saw a 70% drop in revenue due to the pandemic. That's a "devastating" number for a place as dependent on tourism as Capri. But officials believe the island has much to offer visitors, especially in a time of social distancing.
“Even the guests of five-star hotels like to walk,” said Luigi Esposito, a guide who specializes in outdoor excursions on the island. “I take them to discover the island’s hidden places.” Esposito just had a group booked for a tour in September, his first chance to lead a tour after nearly two years of unemployment due to Covid-19.
Capri is not the only island stepping up its vaccination campaign ahead of summer. Its neighbor in the Bay of Naples, Procida, completed all vaccinations days before Capri, which will become Italy's cultural capital in 2022. And Ischia, also in the Bay of Naples, is also soon to complete its nationwide vaccination program.
The Italian government has given the go-ahead for a mass vaccination plan for small islands.
Currently, all visitors to Italy must quarantine for a minimum of five days, but with the soon-to-be-announced pass, the self-isolation requirement will be waived for visitors who have been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months. As of May 10, more than 24 million doses of vaccine had been administered, equivalent to 12% of the population.
