Sold out: the signs began to appear some time ago compared to Easter and Easter Monday in Turin during the Easter holidays. “To date, city hotels – says Dimitri Ciaschini, president of Assohotel-Confesercenti – have reached 90% occupancy, a figure that we hope to exceed with the bookings that are still arriving. These are mostly Italians, but there is no shortage of foreigners, who normally stay a few days longer, so much so that we already have reservations for Friday evening, with departures on Tuesday. The only unknown is last minute cancellations due to the announced bad weather.”
The many arrivals in the city are also confirmed by tourist guides: “Reservations – says Micol Caramello, president of Federagit-Confesercenti – are increasing, compared to last year, by around 10%. The most popular destinations are the traditional ones: Royal Palace, Egyptian Museum and Cinema Museum. But we are also counting a lot on Leonardo’s exhibition, capable of acting as a driving force especially for local tourism.”
The restaurateurs are satisfied: “Already now – says Fulvio Griffa, president of Fiepet-Confesercenti, the federation of public establishments – many of us have closed reservations: I predict that the results will be better than those of 2023”.
And the people of Turin? Despite the crisis and with some extra caution, they are not giving up on traditional purchases: “Finally – say the pastry chefs interviewed by Confesercenti – in the weekend just gone, purchases started to move. And this year too, artisanal eggs and doves are proving successful. Prices, despite the increases in raw materials such as sugar and cocoa, have remained stable or have undergone minimal increases: in a situation of difficulty for families it would have been counterproductive – they say – to adjust prices too much”.
The “low” Easter and the unfavorable weather forecasts risk compromising Easter Monday trips with outdoor barbecues: “This year – says Luigi Frascà, president of Assomacellai-Confesercenti – we will have to pay attention until the last minute to the weather forecast. For now, meat purchases and reservations are trending downward, perhaps not just due to the weather. Unfortunately, we have to record significant increases from our suppliers: at least 20% more for lamb and pork ribs. This doesn’t help sales.”
“The massive influx of tourists – says Giancarlo Banchieri, president of Confesercenti – comforts us because it will be good for the accommodation businesses directly involved, but more generally for all the city’s commerce: bars and restaurants, but also shops; let’s think only of those who sell typical products. Operators are keeping prices down as much as possible, aware that families’ wallets are far from full. But this thins their profit margins. An effort, that of businesses, which must be accompanied by income support measures. As on other occasions, it is not the purchases of a few days of celebration that solve the problem of low consumption”.
Bancheri, Confesercenti, Turin, weekend, Easter, Frascà, Griffa, Ciaschini
