Rimini, 14 August 2023 – Regional Councilor Andrea Corsini, great head of tourism. Few people at the sea, the mayor of Rimini Jamil Sadegholvaad spoke of the most difficult summer of the last 20 years.
“Complicated, more than difficult”.
One in 5 hotel rooms is empty, says Confesercenti.
“Enough data schizophrenia. At the end of the season we will have a worse balance than in 2022, I know, but the situation is not dramatic. We are standing and we are strong. I only trust the Istat data”.
Andrea Corsini, 59 years old, regional councilor for tourism – Emilia Romagna
But what happened this summer, difficult or complicated as it is?
“There was a perfect storm. In April the forecast for July and August said: July and August will be + 30%”.
Then came the flood…
“And not only that. Bad weather made the summer start late. Rising costs, bills and the rise in interest rates have strangled families. This year, no holidays for 4 out of 10 Italians”.
The Riviera covers 70% of Emilia Romagna’s tourist business, you can’t joke around.
“True. I’m happy about the boom in art cities thanks above all to foreigners: but our core business remains the sea”.
Did the high prices on the Riviera and the competition from destinations like Albania affect the crisis?
“There have been some unjustified increases, it is true. But now we are not chasing Albania: we would go to disqualify and sell off our product. We cannot set their prices”.
Read more:
Tourism in the Marche: “We will focus more on foreigners. Albania and Croatia? It’s a challenge”
70% of Italians (poor) and 30% of foreigners (wealthier) come to the Riviera, a percentage that is the opposite of the cities of art. It comes to say: let’s bring the Germans back to the Riviera…
“Yes, that’s the goal. But today – for example – there is no plane that can take the Germans directly to Romagna. We need to increase the number of these flights”.
How you do it?
“After August 20, I’m meeting with the Ryanair bosses: I’ll ask for a greater commitment on Forlì and Rimini”.
Bologna will not jump for joy.
“We will not penalize Bologna”.
Let’s go back upstream: what can be done for sea tourism?
“Let’s start with the hotels. 30% of our structures need to be redeveloped. We have a history of family management and that’s fine: those who want to modernize are welcome. But if someone doesn’t make it, many large groups are ready who would like to invest in us. We favor these investors”.
Do you want to add hotels to hotels, create huge chains?
“To be competitive on an international level and for tour operators, we need structures with 80 rooms or more. We have very few”.
What does it propose?
“Are there hotels that are very small and unable to redevelop themselves? An investor arrives who buys, so to speak, the volume of these 40 rooms and brings them into a larger structure that grows vertically. The old hotel is demolished and becomes a park or a green space. No new overbuilding”.
Complicated…
“It will take years, but it will be a great revolution. We will talk about it at the general states of tourism at the end of November, we will all be there”.
What to do on the beach instead?
“Here, on the beach we are the best, nobody has to teach us anything. But…”
But?
“Let’s make these blessed swimming pools on the beach! You can. It could be another breakthrough”.
The battle over music on the beach at night has taken on a very heated tone in Rimini.
“Having said that rules are needed, I believe that the beach should be experienced as much as possible. Even in the evening. Then it shouldn’t become a permanent disco, of course. But I’m not in favor of limiting too much. The beach must be experienced. Valued”.
But for the beaches there are auctions and Bolkestein on the way.
“The Government must hurry, put three basic rules in line and then leave the specification of everything to us Regions. We are able to build a perfect system that safeguards existing companies. But we must hurry”.
Who is wrong, Meloni?
“Look, I’m honest: all the governments of the last few years have wasted time on the beaches”.
The Pink Night is no longer popular: they even collect signatures to abolish it. Shall we close it?
“No, but we’ll change it.”
And how?
“Back to the origins. In recent years it has become a program of concerts. The event must go back to being a pink cloud, where everyone feels involved. Let’s color the Riviera, the people, the monuments pink. Let’s go back to the fireworks simultaneously, at midnight, throughout the Riviera. Concerts yes, but those at dawn on the beach”.
A promise?
“The last week of June 2024 we will launch the week dedicated to the family. Parents, children and teenagers are our top clientele. We will make special packages, promotions, special communication. Events, entertainment, a big party”.
2023-08-14 20:39:09
#Tourism #EmiliaRomagna #Swimming #pools #hotels #Germans #relaunch #Riviera
