MESSINA – Cruises in Messina: a growing phenomenon. But how do tourists find themselves in the city? And what are their impressions of the excursion offer and city services? The students of the tourism course of the “Jaci” Institute conducted research on the topic, with the support of the Strait Port System Authority. And yesterday morning, Cristiana Laurà, coordinator of the institutional area of the ADSP, and the school director Maria Rosaria Isgrò presented the study in the school’s main hall. “This is not a professional statistical analysis, given the small number of interviewees (around a hundred), but nevertheless interesting and congruent data that should be developed and confirmed with specific studies,” underlines Dr. Laurà.
In recent days, in turn, the Municipality has presented the data from the regional tourism observatory.
The study is entitled “Cruise tourism in Messina: context analysis, customer satisfaction and social campaign”, developed as part of the Institute’s courses for the transversal skills and orientation of its students. In particular, the data collected through questionnaires administered by the students of the school’s tourism course to some cruise passengers visiting the city were presented. All in order to “know their impressions of the excursion offer and city services”.
The salient points of the responses of tourists, with an average age over 60, to the questionnaire? 56.3 percent of cruise passengers had never heard of Messina. 53 percent preferred to visit it on foot. The most popular attraction is the Duomo, 92 percent, with its astronomical bell tower. 15-17 percent appreciated the Ganzirri lakes, beaches and the Catalani church. 5 percent percentage for Christ the King.
For the majority, “tourist assistance in Messina is accurate and friendly”
And again: 47% purchase excursions by ship, 34% travel independently, 12% make the purchase on land and 6% before arriving in Messina. 84 percent were satisfied with the excursion purchased. 10.9% are not satisfied. 58 percent remain in the city. Furthermore, 84.4% rate “tourist assistance in Messina as accurate and friendly”. For 15.6% the assistance is “average”. 59.4% did not use the municipal info point either because it was not easily identifiable or because they used the Internet or because they had a guide to turn to. 76.3% tasted typical cuisine.
More can be done in business
76.6 percent had no problems shopping, while 15.6% had difficulty finding shops. Among the critical elements, in smaller percentages, the lack of “transparency in prices and rudeness” on the part of some traders. 31.3% spent less than ten euros. Public transport was appreciated for cleanliness (43.8%) and speed (28.1%), punctuality (18.1%) and comfort of the vehicles (25%).
“Traffic and lack of cleanliness”
Messina is considered a clean city (around 80%) and safe (90%). And 78.1% of those interviewed liked it. What people like the most are cultural sites and gastronomy, 40.6 and 17.2% respectively. Landscapes and natural environments 9.4%. But what’s not to like about Messina? 22 percent the traffic, 14.1% the lack of cleanliness and 6.3% the tourist reception is not convincing.
“In line with the work of the municipal administration”
Councilors Liana Cannata and Enzo Caruso were present yesterday at the “Jaci”. The latter, who is responsible for Culture and Tourism, expressed “the applause of the entire municipal administration towards an initiative in line with the work we are doing”.
