Between photo sets in bikinis against the backdrop of the Duomo portal, picnic tables and umbrellas on the flowerbeds in front of Villa Olmo, lakefront camping on the Lino Gelpi promenade and naps in the hammock hanging from the trees next to the Broletto (photo published by the newspaper La Provincia) , this glimpse of spring 2024 seems to give the impression of a city that is increasingly a victim of tourism and little capable of managing the enormous flow of people who come to visit it. We talked about it with Marco Cassinapresident of Federmoda of Confcommercio Como and member of the National Council of the Italian Fashion Federation, as well as owner of the historic Peter Ci clothing store in Piazza Duomo.
His is a privileged perspective to read the transformations of the city in recent years, in particular with regards to the changes in a historic center that is increasingly more “tourist-friendly” than that of Como. How has Como changed?
It has radically changed, especially after Covid when we saw a real explosion in tourism which coincided with the arrival of large international hotel chains on the lake which increased its popularity throughout the world. And the effect is on all levels, just look at the flows of people arriving by train even just for a day trip.
And what is the result?
The result is there for all to see, starting from the radical changes that have taken place in the use of public spaces which, like it or not, are occupied by tables so much so that, for example, it is now impossible to sit on benches to enjoy a place like Piazza Volta. And then there are problems in waste collection and enormous public transport problems which have repercussions on those who, trivially, in some periods of the year risk no longer being able to get on a bus or a boat to go to school or work.
The picture is that of a city, but also of an entire territory, victim of its own popularity with the risk that this becomes a boomerang for those who live there. Exact?
Yes, the result is already that of a city that is becoming depopulated because there are no longer houses to rent but, above all, because, let’s be honest, with problems of this type it is no longer nice to live here.
In your opinion, what could be the possible solutions?
To begin with, those responsible for making decisions really need to try to put themselves in the shoes of a citizen. This alone, in my opinion, would help us understand that today the focus must be on protecting residents, rather than tourists. Also because this, by extension, would also have benefits for tourism.
And how?
Tourists are looking for a “local” experience, they want to visit places where they can meet those who live there, they want shops that they can’t find in other cities in the world. If in a city he only finds other tourists like him and shops the same as those seen elsewhere, in the long run it loses its appeal. And this is the same principle that should inspire a debate on the opportunity to build new mega accommodation facilities on the lake like the one hypothesized for Torno. Because it is one thing to transform old homes into hotels, but another to transform the territory of this type. Do we really need it?
Precisely the closure of historic or neighborhood businesses (the latest being the Trombetta silk and fabric shop in Piazza San Fedele, Ed), is a very current topic but, at least apparently, without a solution. What do you think?
It is a very delicate issue because there is no legislative instrument that truly protects historic businesses so it is increasingly common that, once the rent has expired, the owner of the property legitimately decides to ask for an increase that a small business cannot support. Unfortunately, this is the law of the market, but certainly those who remain have, in my opinion, the duty to do something to avoid increasingly rejecting the people of Como by focusing only on tourists. The risk, otherwise, is to increasingly increase the gap between summer and winter, finding ourselves with a deserted city in the low season.
Please explain better.
If on the one hand it is normal that in tourist cities there is a general increase in prices, more or less justified, on the other hand we should start thinking that the word discount is not a mortal sin. In the clothing sector, for example, it is almost common practice for a regular customer to be treated differently from an occasional tourist. Why can’t this also apply in other areas such as bars or restaurants? And then there is the aspect regarding courtesy and hospitality, probably easier to find in family-run shops, but which make the customer feel at ease and not snubbed in favor of high-spending tourists. But on his part the customer must understand that the price is also synonymous with quality, without snubbing the historic center regardless, just as residents should have more patience on certain particularly chaotic days.
And what about a certain type of tourism that is increasingly “rude” and not very aware of the place they went to visit?
Unfortunately, the increase in flows of people inevitably brings with it problems of this type, but I don’t think the solution is to think with an economic yardstick. More rigorous controls are certainly desirable, but I don’t think there is any tourist place immune to this type of thing [Per repliche, opinioni, segnalazioni, foto e video scrivere a [email protected]].
