From the Italian Seaside Union
“Bad weather has affected the start of the 2024 bathing season, recording a drop in attendance at the beach of up to 60% in the month of June alone, even worse in May” – declared Antonio Capacchione, president of the Italian Beach Resort Union adhering to FIPE/Confcommercio.
“The beach establishments in all regions are recording a double-digit decrease in attendance on our coasts compared to the same period last year – specified Capacchione, with very heavy losses in Liguria and Lazio, the only exception, (with the plus sign ): Molise. Those places that are destinations for foreign tourism have suffered less, while Italian holidaymakers have deserted our beaches, mainly due to adverse weather conditions. We are optimistic because the bookings for July and August give us hope.”
“But entrepreneurs today have to face and solve large and serious problems that will affect their future and that of the tourist image of our country – concluded Capacchione. In fact, the absence of a legislative initiative from the Government continues: the failure to issue a clarifying provision on the concession issue is serious. An irresponsible and disconcerting escape from its responsibilities by the current Government. Even parliamentary initiatives such as the latest ones in the Agriculture Decree are blocked by the Government, without it presenting alternative regulatory proposals. We are planning a calendar of events on all Italian coasts to protect 30,000 Italian beach businesses and 100,000 direct employees.”
Attendance on beaches, compared to the same period in 2023, according to a survey conducted on a sample of Italian seaside businesses belonging to the SIB Italian Seaside Union/FIPE-Confcommercio:
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June 2024 %
Abruzzo -20
Basilicata -10
Calabria -15
Campania -30
Emilia Rom. -25
Friuli VG -30
Lazio -50
Liguria -60
Brands unchanged
Molise +10
Puglia -20
Sardinia -15
Sicily unchanged
Tuscany -15
Veneto -15
Source: elaboration on data collected by the SIB Sindacato Italiano Balneari/Confcommercio
