In March a real one drop in hotel attendance and in hospitality establishments in general (-92,3% for foreigners and -85,9% for Italians). In April, the market came to a complete standstill (-99,1% for foreigners and -96,4% for Italians). And in perspective half a million jobs are at risk. Heavy numbers those of Federalberghi, presented to the Senate in the Productive Activities commission by the president of the hotel association, Bernabò Bocca.
"The impact of Covid-19 on the Italian hospitality system has been devastating", remarked Bocca in the hearing, sounding an alarm for the season now upon us. In April, around 106 seasonal jobs were lost in the hospitality sector. According to Federalberghi, if we look at the entire tourism sector, there are almost 2020 seasonal jobs at risk for the summer of 500. Once the integration fund is finished, unfortunately consequences will also have to be expected on permanent contracts.
“All of this – Bocca pointed out – will result in the loss of over 2020 million admissions in 305 (-71,2% compared to 2018), with a drop in turnover in the hospitality sector of almost 17 billion euros (-71,4%). There are many who wonder if it is appropriate to reopen. We obviously want to reopen, but we will only be able to do so if the measures in progress and those to come provide companies with the necessary support and certainties, because companies alone cannot do it ". What are the ways to go, therefore, according to hoteliers?
“A change of pace is needed, urgent interventions are needed to support tourism businesses”. And among the measures indicated as priorities there are direct aid for businesses which have suffered a drop in turnover, specific protections for rented companies, interventions on local and national taxes, strengthening and acceleration of credit disbursement, extension of the redundancy fund and exemption from liability for companies that apply the anti-contagion protocols.
