Italians have reacted defiantly to
foreign newspaper reports that the country's beaches could be a
target for terrorists with a social media campaign under the
hashtag #azzurro (blue).
The initiative was launched by the national tourist board
ENIT on Wednesday in response to a report in German daily Bild
that European beaches, in particular ones in Italy, Spain and
the south of France, could be a target for Islamist suicide
bombers.
"Terrorism planned on our beaches!" wrote Bild citing
subsequently denied contacts between the Italian secret services
and the German ones.
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano and the Italian
intelligence services immediately dismissed the report, which
also said there were fears that terrorists may disguise
themselves as people hawking goods on beaches.
"In #Italia abbiamo 7458 Km di splendide coste. Aiutateci
a raccontarle con vostre foto e video utilizzando l'hashtag
#azzurro @ENIT_italia" (In #Italy we have 7458 km of splendid
coastline. Help us to recount them with you photos and videos
using the hashtag #azzurro), ENIT said in a tweet.
Culture Minister Dario Franceschini was among the first
people to take up the invitation, along with Culture
Undersecretary Dorina Bianchi.
The initiative came after ENIT on Tuesday affirmed its
"total confidence in the way the government is managing security
in our country" and expressed "concern and upset over the
publication of media reports aiming to make the situation of
insecurity in Europe more tense".
"Tourism, a fundamental resource, not only economically
but also for promoting our common cultural and natural heritage,
risks becoming one of the sectors that is most damaged by
incautious statements," ENIT said.
Beach operators joined the chorus of protest, also
pointing out that "many hawkers are familiar figures in so much
as they have been operating on our beaches for several years",
according to Riccardo Borgo of retailers' association
Confcommercio.
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