Tourism in Lucca driven by major events. An increasingly evident phenomenon that has now led to the discovery of the city on an international level. Thanks to some demonstrations that acted as a reminder, among all the Lucca Summer Festival which has an impact on tourism, even years later. To know the situation of hotel industrywe asked the hotel owner At the Court of Angels in the historic center and president of Federalberghi, Pietro Boninoalso on the occasion of the change of presidency in Confcommercio Lucca and Massa Carrara, which will take place at the next meeting, scheduled for 25 June.
“We are registered with Confcommercio since 1992 and we arrived in Lucca in 1998 – Bonino specifies -, to give you an example, we were around ten operators and 3.4 star hotels, there were two, no more. You will all remember the Napoleon, which for us is an institution, because upon arriving in Lucca everyone could see it. Many things have changed since that time: I opened on October 13th, but in August I was closed for holidays. They all closed in August, there was no one there. Then little by little this thing diminished until today it is unthinkable to close in the month of Augustbecause the entire tourist flow has changed in these 25 years”.
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“Tourists have changed – he continues -, they have discovered us in northern Europe, the Dutch and the Swedes were the pioneers of our tourism. They were also the first to want to buy a house in the hills, because they really like Lucca.”
The most famous events, from the Lucca Summer Festival to Lucca Comics and Games, greatly boosted tourism in Lucca. International events that have brought the name of our city all over the world. Lucca today is considered the pearl of Tuscany.
“The change in tourist flow occurred thanks to all the demonstrations and the media buzz which follows – specifies Bonino -. First of all I would say the Summer Festival, which crowns us in all the most important airports and which gives us enormous and daily visibility. They certainly have social media helps. Social media has brought movement, with views, likes and stories, all situations that amplify the tourist flow.”
That too is among the most radical changes tourist rentals. Are there a lack of adequate structures for their reception?
“Lucca is a tourist city and it seems clear to me – says Bonino -, the request is quite homogeneous for everyone. Usually apartments are preferred by families, because they have a lower price if we divide it among all the members, hotels are a little more expensive. Lucca is a family-friendly town and many families come especially in the summer. In winter this market goes downbut it’s clear that it has repercussions throughout the year. We do not have a precise number of people arriving and this can create problems for the services by clogging them upfor example on the waste front or for taxis: having no idea of the amount of people arriving, it is difficult to satisfy everyone’s needs. We are lacking in services due to a tourist flow whose numbers are not well known and which is constantly growing. If the number of rooms is known for hotels, a villa that can accommodate 10 people is rented to how many people?”.
The current municipal administration aims to deseasonalize the tourist flownot tying it exclusively to the high season but achieving a constant flow throughout the year.
“We haven’t reached that point yet – admits Pietro Bonino -, to say that we are 75 percent of the way there. It’s physiological that in January, February, March and a little in November and a little in December there is a decline. In winter the mountains are more popular, people want to go skiing and we work more on weekends, while hotels in the mountains make more during the week. But we must admit that Lucca has a very important season, which starts from Easter and reaches the Comics, we usually have a nice November because in any case there is the dismantling of the Comics pavilions and we almost reach the halfway point, then there are the holidays on December 8th and then Christmas begins. There is a bit of a decline in recent months but in my opinion it is physiological for a city of art”.
“In my opinion, he could be able to give us a hand a calendar of events with a schedule from November onwards – adds Bonino -. In this way by having a calendar that refers to the following year, we can organize our work better. Not to mention that in this way a concomitance of events is created and many times they overlap and we are always the ones running after them. Many cities are organizing themselves in this way, that is, they are starting to work like this, putting events into a calendar, so that the professionals can organize themselves.”
The future of commerce in Lucca necessarily passes by a mediation between the city administration and its commercial fabric. In this Confcommercio, as an association representing traders, has a mediating role. What are the future challenges of the city’s commercial fabric, in the hotel sector.
“The work is going in the right direction – declares Bonino -, it is clear that having an abundant flow of visitors, they must still be respected. Me walking around I don’t find the city badly keptbut all these services must be lined up and guaranteed, because in my opinion Lucca is beautiful and that is what amazes and sees the tourist. A city closed by walls with houses, squares and monuments from the 1400s and 1500s is unusual and what we have to do is keep it as beautiful as possible”.
