Pre-booking? E-tags? Salvaging Italy's beach season

Visitors to Italy's famous beaches could be in for a surprise this summer.

Umbrellas will be spaced far apart, hand gel, will be readily available, and even electronic tagging and booking systems have been proposed.

These are just a few of the changes resorts are considering to be able to re-open in time for peak season.

Despite the changes, Claudio Ambrogetti, who's run Taormina's Il Delfino beach for the past 15 years, is still upbeat.

"This is a difficult period for our city, but the beach establishments are ready to re-open as soon as we have the guidelines."

Like many beach managers in Sicily, he's hoping that health protocols and distancing rules - which still need to be signed off - will allow trade to start in June, even if it is likely to be local.

Proposals, including a minimum 5 meters between umbrellas, could prove costly for those who depend on visitors searching for sun.