To realize this, just take a look in the most central areas of the city: the uncertain weather forecast for the May 1st long weekend has absolutely not discouraged arrivals, especially foreigners. And even the long weekend of April 25th that just passed gave more than positive results to the sector.
Only “last minute” items are at risk
«Reservations are well underway, despite the forecast of bad weather – explains Cristina Zucchi, vice president of the Hoteliers of Confcommercio Como – and occupancy is at 80%. We also take into account that the bridge also falls with the start of the “Proposte” fair and, therefore, this also helps and therefore there are customers who come to the city specifically for that». The ones who have been affected and are specifically affected by the bad weather are above all the restaurants, explain the experts, but reservations for rooms already made previously almost always come through. If anything, “last minute” items are lost.
The tourism sector also looks positively at the high season which, as per tradition, begins in the month of May. And it aims to repeat an extraordinary season like that of 2023. An expectation that the president of the Albergatori Luca Leoni also confirmed in the last few hours, analyzing the overall situation on Lake Como. «What is canonically known as high season begins on May 1st. And here we can only repeat a concept expressed several times in recent months, namely the premises are for a reconfirmation of the large numbers of 2023. In light of this, it is necessary to keep a watchful eye on the services, starting with the guaranteed connections to and from the capital from public transport.”
Last year, in fact, the biggest problems were found precisely in mobility: few buses, unobtainable taxis, packed boats. Something, in terms of planning, has changed with more vehicles in the field and, as far as Como city is concerned, the new rules on taxi service will have to be tested.
Holiday homes (apartments and villas rented for short periods) are also smiling. «Regardless of the rain – explains Simone Majeli, owner of “Rent all Como”, a company that manages 150 apartments exclusively, of which approximately half in the capital – both bridges are full. We are practically full in the city and, on the lake, at 75%. And the prospects predict a spacey May, while last year this was not the case. This season will be the test to understand the effects of the increase in available properties with the increase in demand.” The data will in fact serve as a litmus test to understand whether the increase in supply will be balanced by the increase in demand, or whether there will instead be a “spreading”.
Record of those arriving from abroad
Majeli explains that «the destination works and I think that here we have the highest percentage of foreigners ever, perhaps at the tail end of the Amalfi Coast. For example, we work 98% with foreigners. This year we aim to carry out between 6 and 7 thousand check-ins for a total of around 25 thousand nights”. Those looking for accommodation to visit the city and the lake look, according to Majeli, “the presence of wi-fi and air conditioning, logistics understood as proximity to services and transport and whether there is a balcony or terrace available”.
