The Government is not there yet but already the hoteliers they knock asking for measures "to be adopted urgently, to defend the survival of businesses and jobs". It must be noted that the tourism sector he is recovering after the beating caused by Covid. Bank of Italy survey in hand, after the large contraction in 2020, tourist revenues have recorded a progressive recovery since the beginning of summer 2021, spending by foreign travelers in Italy has started to grow again (by 23 per cent, after the contraction of 61 per cent in 2020). And this year the summer quarter was positive”, acknowledges the hoteliers' association Federalberghi.
However, the study center of the same organization points out that from January to September 2022 there was an overall drop of 6,9% in the presence of tourists in accommodation facilities compared to the corresponding period of 2019 (3,6% reduction for Italians and 10,1% for foreigners). In absolute value, it means that about 26 million presences are missing.
The president of Federalberghi increases the dose, Bernabo Bocca: "In recent months we have suffered severely due to the explosion in the price of gas and electricity, but the seasonal trend in demand has allowed us to grit our teeth and resist".
Sos Federalberghi: "If this continues, we will all close"
But now the cold season is knocking on the door and “the music will change. Many seasonal hotels have brought forward the closing date and there are many year-round hotels that are seriously considering the possibility of suspending activity while waiting for better times", complains the president of Federalberghi.
Hence the appeal. If on the one hand there is appreciation for the measures adopted so far, on the other hand they are considered insufficient. And therefore, urges Bernabò Bocca, “there is a need to further interventions, to be adopted urgently, to defend the survival of businesses and jobs. We look with great concern at the coming months and at the risk that all markets, not just the tourist one, will be marred by an explosive combination of cost increase e demand reduction".
