Tourism: Federalberghi, optimism for the summer but 350 thousand employees are missing

After the pandemic, the war in Ukraine is now creating a new climate of uncertainty and even anguish for Italian hoteliers who, however, are ready to fight and do not abandon optimism. Also because there are positive glimpses for the summer. This is the sentiment that emerged at the Federalberghi assembly, now in its 72nd edition, which took place in Parma and which also saw the participation of the chef Carlo Cracco, the CEO of Roberta Garibaldi and the president of Emilia Romagna Stefano Bonaccini. . “The data in our possession make us optimistic for the summer season because we have a return of foreign tourism in the cities of art, especially American, but the most important data is that of Italians who go on vacation and stay in Italy, this is a reason for us to boast and pride “, said the president Bernabò Bocca addressing the audience of entrepreneurs, without denying that the sector is experiencing” difficult times “in every sense, and that to curb competition from competing countries (primarily Spain) “a national policy must be worked out with Minister Garavaglia”. “On some markets such as the American one we are at the numbers of two years ago. But this year – Bocca specified – we have to do without other international markets: not only Russia, but all of the Far East, that is, China, Taiwan, Korea , Japan who are totally absent. We hope to compensate for this absence with more Americans but above all more Italians. Italy is the first market “said Bocca proudly. And to confirm that there is a great desire for Italy in the world was the Minister of Tourism Massimo Garavaglia who spoke at the works. “In April, May and June, Italy has a filling rate of structures 10 points higher than Spain, our traditional competitor” Garavaglia observed, adding that “it is a phenomenon of rebound in Italy’s desire that must be made structural”. Positive signs but also clouds are gathering over the world of Italian hospitality which suffers from the increasingly evident difficulties in retaining staff: “a situation that worries us because the outflow of these people risks bleeding the sector” underlined Bocca. And there was no lack of a stab at the citizens’ income earners: “the time has come to get these people back to work,” said Bocca. And from the same stage Garavaglia specified that “300-350 thousand figures are missing”, that “welfare rules such as Naspi, the citizen’s income and a rethinking of vouchers should be reviewed” and announced “a meeting next week with the minister Orlando and the operators to see what can be done immediately “.