In the first six months of 2023, an increase of 35% with peaks that reached 59% in the spring and, unlike our province, we had more foreign tourists than Italians. The councilor for Tourism and Major Events of the Municipality of Salerno Alessandro Ferrara revealed the data. Councilor Ferrara, we are now in the midst of summer and many tourists are arriving in the city. Here is the interview given to The Chronicles
What are the prospects for these months?
“Compared to well-known tourist locations that declare a slight decline compared to previous years, Salerno has a growing trend that, according to analyses carried out by Enit, Isnart and other institutes, we should have a tendency of more than 13%. Considering that we have a reception capacity of about 5,000 beds and that we have been competing with consolidated international tourist realities for decades, we can consider ourselves satisfied. We are a start-up that, slowly growing, must undeniably raise the culture of hospitality”.
Cruise ships but above all the airport: the official opening on July 11th, a great opportunity for the province of Salerno and for Campania…
«In 2019 the cruise sector came to a complete standstill. Starting from scratch Salerno is among the Mediterranean ports with one of the highest growth trends. From an analysis of 2022 it was ascertained that each cruise passenger has a potential spending capacity of €80. For Salerno €90. Specifying that the tours are sold upstream with international competitions, out of approximately 100,000 passengers approximately 40% stop in the city.
Calculating the potential turnover is simple. It is a real circular economy which, however, must be encouraged with organized commercial and system proposals between all private operators. However, it is categorical that we are the ones who must adapt to the needs of visitors and never the other way around. The Salerno brand spreads throughout the world with cruise passengers.
What better free advertising. The airport holds immense potential not only from a tourist point of view but also from a commercial point of view for our territory and for the regions to the south. We are the cradle of the Mediterranean diet.
We have a territory rich in excellence, unique niche products, a hinterland rich in history and uncontaminated nature. I think the possibilities for further growth of fourth range products will be a further driving sector for us. And obviously we are at the beginning and in this long period of economic difficulty it is unavoidable that everyone, public and private, create a network with a single direction that will gradually lead to raising the services to excellence”.
Big events, what initiatives are planned for the City of Salerno?
“It is clear that the failure to disburse cohesion funds has put all local authorities in Campania in difficulty, as they have not been able to plan large events in time that could have been partially or fully financed. We currently do not have the resources to take on mass events of national importance on our own.
However, we are working on an important 2025 program. In any case, in addition to interesting exhibitions, we will have the International School Tourism Exchange, the Job and Training Exchange, we will host for a few days 300 clarinetists from all over Europe who will hold various performances. All this in addition to the events already consolidated over time and we will try to add more along the way».
As tourism councilor, what summer do you expect?
«In the first 6 months of 2023 compared to 2022 we recorded an average increase of 35% with peaks of almost 59% in the spring. Unlike our province, we had more foreign tourists than Italians. Slightly less in the summer months but still growing. This year too, the trend always shows us further growth. Little by little we are consolidating ourselves as a tourist destination, spreading attendance throughout the year.
In both November 2022 and 2023 I disseminated all the consolidated data coming from the relevant institutional bodies such as Enit, Aretur, Police Headquarters, our offices and private sector operators such as the sea routes with impressive traveler numbers. Certain data that leaves no margin for instrumental interpretations or convenient manipulations. This is demonstrated by the tourist tax which has more than tripled in three years. With a little more attention, those who invoke data on flows or anything else have been communicated from time to time.”
WhatWhen we talk about tourism we can’t help but talk about services, there’s something to review…
“Every day there is something to learn, improve, review and correct. Only those who do things concretely have the possibility of growing by learning from the inevitable mistakes. In recent times we have been improving several areas and we will improve further. However, we must limit public self-pity with destructive criticism and try together to enhance the positive things we find.
Prejudicial and self-serving criticism creates enormous damage to the city’s image, it can partly undermine the work and the proposal on international sector markets. If anyone still believes that in the current socioeconomic context everything must fall on the shoulders of the local authority, they are decontextualized, they live in another reality.
Today the contribution of private individuals and various organizations is essential. However, concrete contribution, not just conferences or projects to come. The municipality already in 2023 at the London and Berlin fairs with its own exclusive resources, no external support, began to convey direct contact brochures to the Costa d’Amalfi airport. I conclude by reminding everyone that if we do not work together and in a network, but only to pursue personal goals, the real goals for the community and the territory will hardly be achieved. A common strategy and shared action are therefore essential.
Source The Chronicles
