In the logo of the Italian G7 which Giorgia Meloni he had the Greats of the Earth sign at the opening of the summit there is a stylized olive tree. “A symbol of our identity,” commented the prime minister. But in these latitudes the olive tree is also synonymous with Xylella, the natural disaster that has exterminated millions of trees and whose threat also looms over the splendid centuries-old specimens that shade the powerful gathered in Borgo Egnazia. In short, the dark side of the summit can already be glimpsed in the logo. The feared boomerang effect of the international summit which catapulted the attention of the whole world to Puglia. A global opportunity, of course. But also a risk.
Borgo Egnazia, a treasure chest of Puglia: tradition, luxury and privacy has become a symbol in the world
by Anna Puricella
June 13, 2024
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and his colleague Daniele Santanchè perceived this very well. Who threatened CNN with a lawsuit. Applying the Italian habit of speaking out against unwanted journalistic reports. Have you ever seen that it works with Americans too? It must be said that the reportage which also sparked the anger of Apulian hoteliers and tourist operators also contained some inaccuracies (the Scu in the Foggia area, to name one). But the first boomerang effect of the G7 was a risk that could not fail to be calculated. That is, if you host 1,800 journalists from all over the world, it is inevitable that they end up doing their job. In the story of Puglia, the mafia also ended. And the Government’s choice to focus on Borgo Egnazia “despite – the reporter argued – the increased violence of organized crime”. Not exactly the tourist postcard that was presented to the people of Puglia during the last electoral campaign.
And, speaking of journalists, and the boomerang risk. The media center set up at the Fiera del Levante is beautiful, beautiful. There is a relaxation room with large cushions among the omnipresent olive trees, a table football table and large screens to follow the summit. But remotely. Indeed very remote. The thousand workstations fully equipped with PCs and printers are 70 kilometers away from the highly armored ultra-luxury resort where the work takes place. A sidereal distance to cover the event, and also trivially its outline. In short, keeping someone who has traveled thousands of kilometers to talk about the G7 and Puglia at such a distance may not have been such a good choice. Ah, on the other hand the buffet seems to be very good. And open twenty-four hours a day. Cruise model.
The nightmare on the bus from Bari to Alberobello in the land of the G7: tourists sitting on the ground, exasperated commuters. “Travelling like this scares us”
by Benedetta De Falco
June 13, 2024
Write cruise and you inevitably think of the ship that was supposed to host 2,600 Italian policemen stationed in Puglia to guarantee the security of the summit. Think about what could have been and instead it wasn’t because the first boomerang effect of the world summit was precisely the abyss that separates these dilapidated cabins where the Interior Ministry wanted to host its employees from the exaggerated luxury of the Borgo Egnazia resort. Golden pools versus doomed toilets. Chef Bottura at the stove in a canteen which immediately alerted the police due to its terrible conditions. “They packed us in like animals” denounced the law enforcement unions. An investigation has been opened into the case but what will remain is another bad postcard from the G7.
Who knows what other details these three very important days will hold for Puglia. We sincerely hope that things can get better. And never mind the inconveniences for us citizens, the traffic stop, the canceled trains to allow the first ladies to travel on historic convoys. Patience because Puglia, and therefore all of us, may have something to gain from all this attention. But there is one last little thing that has happened in these hours which perhaps suggests that the ‘positive impact’ promised by the Government will be there, but probably not for everyone. The mayor of Fasano, Francesco Zaccaria, wrote a letter addressed to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, contesting the absence of any reference to the city on the G7 commemorative stamp. Only Borgo Egnazia is mentioned on the stamp, which is not a locality. But a private resort.
A detail that may have been overlooked? Probably. But when they tell us that the event was “a postcard” for Puglia, perhaps it should be understood without a stamp.
