“This government is demonstrating how important it is to work as a team also for tourism, with colleagues in the executive but also with the regions”. The tourism team “is also made up of entrepreneurs who have proven to be very resilient, given that tourism is the sector that has paid the highest price during the pandemic, and of workers. Teamwork is won if each player does his part and this has been proven.” This was said by the Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè speaking in the panel “Blue Europe” Sea economy: a route to share’, among the events of the second day of ‘Italy changes Europe’, the programmatic conference of Fratelli of Italy underway in Pescara from 26 to 28 April.
“The blue economy not only has the blue shirt but also the pink shirt because 20% of the companies that work in the maritime economy market are represented by women – he added –. It is an important element such as the fact that the blue economy is a great opportunity for the south, 47.9% of companies in the sector are located in the south, and it is an opportunity for greater growth”. For Santanchè “we owe it to Giorgia Meloni if we are bringing home important results in tourism. He is the first Prime Minister who put it on the political agenda, understanding its full importance.” With respect to a topic like sustainability, “we are doing a lot, but I want to remember that there is not only the environmental one but also the economic and social one, because I would never want to see a contrast between man and the environment. They are not two counterparts but the same party and they must work together.” The government “in addition to putting around 42 million euros into sustainability, there are PNRR funds, one billion and 380 million, very important both for overcoming the challenge of sustainability and that of tourism services. Funds available to accommodation facilities to improve quality, digitalisation and energy efficiency. Then we have the EIB fund, 800 million which can be interpreted in the same way.”
The government is “doing everything possible to support this sector”. The theme of “sustainability, central to tourism, through funds, must become concrete, not remain just a label”. Furthermore, “also with my colleague Musumeci (Minister for Civil Protection and
Policies of the sea, with her among the protagonists of the panel, ed.), we have the same vision, the same views and we know the importance of Italy’s maritime economy. We must invest even more in the cruise sector, which is fundamental, also because it is a high-spending tourism, and in shipbuilding. We must be proud that the most beautiful boats in the world are made in Italy and the most important shipyards are in Italy. All this must make us even more proud of being Italian.” For the minister, also on these issues “the pride of
being Italian is the most important thing. Beyond the sustainability numbers, what can make us win more than anything is teamwork – he underlines -. You have to go abroad to understand how much desire for Italy there is in the world. How much we want to copy our lifestyle, the made in Italy”. While in Italy “many think that the neighboring country has the lushest grass”. We need to “instead understand the most important competitive element we have… we are Italy”.
