Italy: Tourism as if there was no pandemic

For Italian tourism, a strong wind is blowing again. Forecasts show that tourist traffic will return to pre-pandemic levels this year.

The agricultural association Coldiretti, which monitors the consumption of local products and the increase in sales, estimates that this year the country can host – again – at least 33 million foreign tourists, as had happened in 2019.

Last year, due to coronavirus, from June to September, arrivals from abroad decreased by 55%. In a difficult period, with the risk of economic recession visible, the Italian economy can be significantly strengthened, that is, with a total turnover of forty billion euros. As the Press writes, the fact that from tomorrow, it will not be necessary for anyone to show a green card of a vaccinated person to enter the country, also contributes to this upward trend of arrivals.

The so-called cities of art (from Rome to Naples and Venice) are already full of foreign visitors and in the most famous resorts, such as Sardinia and Puglia, restaurants and hoteliers have started smiling again.

In search of 350,000 employees

At the same time, according to Cattolica University, in a survey conducted in Italy, Spain, France, England and Germany, respondents said that the first European destination they would choose is Italy, with a total of 60%.

There is, of course, the problem of increases: consumer associations have made it known that on the various beaches, they range from 5% to 18%. But they become more noticeable in the more expensive destinations. In several resorts near Rome, until the end of June, one will find an umbrella and sunbed for 12 euros.

Finally, in Italy, there is a shortage of workers in the tourism sector. An estimated 350,000 additional employees are urgently needed. Mario Draghi’s government will seek a temporary solution, with a “green light” on the arrival of labor from countries outside the European Union.

Theodoros Andreadis Siggelakis, Rome

Source: Deutsche Welle