Aeolian Islands, “stop hit and run tourism”. The appeal of Proloco and citizens: “Save Stromboli and Panarea”

Making the Aeolian Islands a national case. This is the objective of the appeal launched by the Pro Loco Amo Stromboli with the associations “Insieme per Panarea” and “Noi per Panarea”, which, “expressing the demands of both the population and tourist and commercial operators”, invoke urgent measures to “safeguard – reads a note – the uniqueness and exceptional nature of the natural, cultural and anthropological heritage of Stromboli and Panarea” and, at the same time, “promote and enhance sustainable tourism”. A SOS that calls into question, in addition to the main local and national environmental associations (from the Aeolian Islands Preservation Foundation to Legambiente and the WWF), the Unesco Foundation, the Ministry of the Environment, the Sicilian Regional Councils for Territory and Tourism, and, of course , the mayor of Lipari. The application denounces the imminent resumption of “daily landings of thousands of people” in Stromboli and Panarea: “an intense and uncontrolled daily tourist flow” which, in particular in the case of Stromboli, is not only harmful to the ecosystem and for the local economy, but absurdly contradicts the need, underlined by the scientific world and by the institutions themselves, for a rational management of arrivals, since the island has to deal with a “perennially active volcano characterized by intense phases eruptive and unpredictable and paroxysmal events “. “On the busiest days – it is stated – about 10 thousand people disembark on the island during the day, a completely incompatible circumstance not only for the resulting environmental impact but with” the organization of an eventual evacuation, both under the profile of the management of any rescue “and of the wave of panic that would ensue. There would be a risk of not being able to cope with the emergency, with unimaginable consequences: and all this, once again, for a short-sighted economic calculation. It is never possible , one wonders, that public institutions are not aware of it? Hence the letter of request for a meeting of 10 June last addressed to local institutions, in which the associations contest the ordinance no. 53 of 1/06/2021 of mayor of Lipari, an ordinance “which appears completely insufficient to address the problems relating to the daily tourist flow in the aforementioned islands, both from the hygienic-sanitary point of view” and from that of “safety a linked to the characteristics of an active volcano and its territory “. It should also be noted that on the two islands “there are no driveways except for small vehicles; public services are limited to the essential minimum (post office, first aid medical service, waste collection and disposal). Public toilets are non-existent. and the sewer system is entirely made up of private cesspools “. It is an ordinance – we read again – that “does not place any limit on daily landings, nor does it give indications regarding the coordination of landings between scheduled public and private transport. timetables based on the place of departure of the boats, continuous activities throughout the day and every day of the week “. The associations ask for an urgent meeting as well as the mayor of Lipari, the Prefect, the regional head of Civil Protection, the Commander of the Port Authority of Lipari, the Commissioner ad acta for the Covid emergency in Messina, the councilors for transport and the Tourism of the Sicily Region, and invite the competent authorities “to coordinate to ensure that the regulations on the safety and health of workers, passengers and all subjects in the port area are respected”. How? Implementing a careful management of landings and quoting the daily number of passengers based on the capacity of the small port spaces and in compliance with current safety, health and environmental regulations “. In short:” the Aeolian Islands, a UNESCO natural site, do not want to they cannot be places for uncontrolled ‘hit and run’ tourism. The possibility must be given to the inhabitants of the islands and to those who work there to obtain, through tourism, the development of the local economy, especially in the months of less influx: May, June, September, October. Introduce the obligation to book visits to the islands which provides for a maximum number of availability considering the tourist periods and the environment of the places. Organizing lists of reservations would also serve the Authorities for the control of both the daily flows and for the verification of the payment of the tickets “.