TERAMO. Tourism in line with the trend of previous years, but with the unknown weather forecast for the long weekends of April 25th and May 1st in the Teramo area. It will be a summer test more for the coast than in the inland areas. The same attendance numbers as last year are expected in the province over the next two long weekends. At least for stays that require reservations in accommodation facilities.
The uncertain weather will, however, influence daily travel on which we can already have an overview of restaurant reservations, which are good, with the Teramo Virtues of May 1st acting as the driving force. More presences are expected on the coast. «There is a good number of bookings for stays also because various hotels and establishments are already open», he says Gianluca Grimi, president of Assoturimo Confesercenti Abruzzo, «Reservations also inside, let’s hope for good weather that encourages trips. In Teramo there is the agricultural fair, but above all on May 1st the virtues that generate movement, but which should be systematised as a true tourist product, not only food and wine, but 360 degrees for the whole history and tradition behind it and as a potential attractor for the entire province.” The lack of network between the Municipalities and with the trade associations is complained about by the president of Federalberghi and Confcommercio Giammarco Giovannelli. «The economic crisis is evident and the weather, especially in this first bridge, is not in our favor», he explains, «those who have organized events will have feedback and we hope for an extra presence compared to organized tourists». And he continues with a controversial note: «It is necessary to extend the summer season. It is serious that tourism does not have its own voice in planning and that there is financial dispersion due to incorrect investments in events organized by municipalities that do not network and ignore the categories. We are available to collaborate with institutions for integrated tourism programming.” Still difficulties in the hinterland, especially in the municipalities affected by the earthquake. «Our villages are suffering and there is no regional marketing and programming plan», adds the restaurateur Daniele Zunica, restaurateur from Civitella, «in these beautiful places we were packed, but today filling the rooms is hard. Reservations at restaurants are definitely better.” Total uncertainty in Prati di Tivo: with the lifts stopped, the hotels are closed, there are daily reservations, but they are not enough after the black winter. “The worst winter in 62 years,” he says Tonino Parogna of the Gran Baita, «the little snow that also ruined ski mountaineering. We expect the cable car to reopen in June and not in August and for it to operate all year round. We don’t know anything and we can’t plan.”
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