‘Tourism becomes central in the G7, an Italian victory’

(by Cinzia Conti and Leonardo Roselli) (ANSA) – FLORENCE, 15 NOV – “Tourism is a vehicle for peace and needs peace to prosper”. In a world bloodied by conflicts and geopolitical tensions, this consideration written in the premises of the final document adopted by the members of the 7 highly industrialized countries (Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, United Kingdom, United States, to which is added the Union Europe) at the end of the first G7 Tourism to underline the need to keep the sector at the top of the national and international political agendas. But tourism is also a formidable “engine of economic prosperity, employment and well-being” and much more. And if the G7 leaders, who met in Florence from 13 to 15 November under the Italian presidency, welcomed 43% of global tourist arrivals in 2023 and represent 41% of tourists departing to destinations around the world, the benefits of tourism must be extended to more and more places in the world and for this reason representatives of UN Tourism and OECD and Outreach countries (Brazil, Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia) also arrived in the Tuscan capital. “If tourism has been placed at the center of the G7 economies for the first time – Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè says proudly in the final conference – it is thanks to Italy, it is an all-Italian victory, a milestone. It cannot be done now no longer going back. Indeed, we must look forward to the future, and this is also demonstrated by the first document adopted by the G7 governments on tourism and artificial intelligence”. Similarly, on the first day, welcoming his colleagues in the Salone dei 500 at Palazzo Vecchio, he explained: “Just as the Renaissance was a moment of rebirth and innovation, tourism is also called to a profound renewal that looks to the future but without forgetting the historical roots and cultural that unite it”. Recounting what happened behind closed doors, the minister explains: “Everyone gave interesting ideas to reflect on in the next meetings, no one made banal interventions, believe me it was two days of listening and discussion. We really put important topics on the ground and everyone has made contributions which we will treasure for our work to set up new actions to be able not to suffer tourism as has been done so far but to manage it – he underlines – makes the difference on what some call ‘too much tourism'”. And to remove any doubt about what to do, he adds: “If anyone thinks that tourism is too much or a threat, I would like to remember the pandemic and the desolation because the world was closed.” Key points of the final document are “economic, social and environmental sustainability” and “the recognition of human capital as the most precious resource in the tourism ecosystem”, with professions that require technical and transversal skills, such as communication and flexibility, as well as the improvement of workforce training, with a focus on skills linked to sustainable tourism and new technologies”. Also at the center of the agenda is the adoption of artificial intelligence, understood as a fundamental vector for the development of tourism towards innovation and sustainability, without neglecting cybersecurity and data protection, preventing abuses such as false reviews, deep fakes or consumer manipulation. The G7 countries also commit in the final document “to further integrate the rights of people with disabilities across political agendas” and considering the needs of an aging society, recognizes “the need, as well as the economic opportunity, to embrace the principles of universal accessibility and design”. Santanchè also underlines that “we Italians are perhaps accustomed to our wonders and do not fully appreciate them but all the delegations were impressed by the beauty of our nation and our program. This shows that we must all be proud of being Italian”. Confirmation also came from the “Best Tourism Villages” award assigned by UN Tourism, the United Nations agency that deals with tourism, which also this year reaches Italy and specifically San Casciano dei Bagni (Siena) , a village already known for its beautiful landscape, thermal waters, food and wine offering of pici and wine and recently consecrated also by the extraordinary discovery of a thermal sanctuary of which the votive deposit has been preserved intact with over 20 bronze statues found, 10 thousand coins, anatomical votive offerings dating back to the Etruscan and Roman era. (HANDLE).