Tourism, 65% of hotels are at risk, recovered in 2023

TURIN - Tourism is the sector most affected by the pandemic: 65% of hotels and restaurants are likely to close by the end of the year, with a possible employment impact of around 1 million jobs. The full recovery of volumes in 2019 is expected no earlier than 2022-2023. Based on this study, Pwc Italia indicates, at the third Digital Event of the 'Italy 2021 - Skills to restart the future' platform, ten priorities for the relaunch of the sector: increase the resilience of business models; dedicate adequate incentives to the sector; leverage digitalization for an increasingly personalized travel experience; expand and upgrade the tourist offer; provide infrastructure and transport interventions; invest in professional training; overcome sector fragmentation; accelerate the definition of a sustainable tourism offer; make the communication of attractions and the Italian brand more effective and grasp the potential of digital technologies.
    Institutions, companies and operators agree that digital and material infrastructures will play a fundamental role in supporting tourism. "The great crises open up opportunities. We can rebuild a tourism of large numbers in Italy, but sustainable and respectful of the fragility of our landscape, of the artistic heritage. Not a 'hit and run' tourism, but cultured, intelligent and with spending power. We need to invest in infrastructure, digital and material, "says Dario Franceschini, minister of cultural heritage and tourism. "Digital is playing a fundamental role in the pandemic and revitalization phase, especially in the field of tourism communication. In a country system logic it can help overcome the limits deriving from the fragmentation of our hospitality system", observes Stefano Bravo, PwC partner Italy and Consumer Markets Leader.
    "The situation is serious, but I am convinced that the recovery will already be in 2021, even if it will not allow us to recover the losses this year. So far 60% of the hotels have opened, a further 20% in the cities of art it will open in September, 20% will not reopen, "explains Bernabò Bocca, president of Federalberghi, while Beniamino Maltese, vice president and CFO of the Costa Group, appeals to the government to restart cruises. "Italy - he remembers - holds the primacy in Europe in the sector and is the country that derives the greatest benefits from cruise ships and related economic activities, such as shipbuilding".
    "What is needed for tourism is for the Italian industry to start all over again. It is necessary to sburocratize, but we must also intervene on the tax burden which is unbearable and penalizes us", observes Marina Lalli, president of Federturismo Confindustria. Gabriele Burgio, president and CEO of Alpitour agrees, asking the public "clarity, uniformity of regulations, otherwise it becomes difficult to invest. In Italy prices have increased, we must raise the quality level and the public can do a lot in this regard". With a criticism: "We dedicate 90% of the time to the analyzes, 1% to the real proposals. And there is an urgent need to intervene". (HANDLE).