Italy to establish database against illegal tourism activities

Rome: The Italian tourist season has been successful, as the expectations shared by the ministry’s research offices and other authorities have already exceeded those of 2021.

However, the lack of guidelines for online tourism has risen as an issue. During a meeting with the organisation, the latter agreed to respect the measures put by the ministry regarding the system of the short-term rental sector, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

“By October, we will have the database of the non-hotel offer. It will be the main tool against the illegal phenomenon. Those who offer accommodation solutions that are not in good standing are competing unfairly with those in good standing,” the Italian Tourism Minister, Massimo Garavaglia, said.

He also pointed out that the issue cannot be resolved with random solutions and that the country needs certain rules to be imposed nationally.

During the meeting, Garavaglia recalled that the ministry promotes and supports the agenda approved by the Aid Decree, which invites the government to co-work with the Regions to define measures to be applied to the whole country.

Before the pandemic hit the world, the Italian tourism industry was worth 13 per cent of the country’s GDP, or nearly €240 billion, and employed 15 per cent of the workforce while also generating € 44 billion to the Italian trade balance and marked a production value of €190 billion.

The pandemic, for this sector, has produced similar effects to war as the national GDP dropped by 8.8 per cent in 2020, and tourism dropped by 40 per cent.

At the same time, just like the rest of Europe, Italy is dealing with an energy price increase, which the government says must intervene immediately with measures to reduce the effects on costs.

“Energy has reached levels that jeopardise the results of companies. I hope that this week there will be a Council of Ministers capable of adopting quick solutions. For these reasons, the desirable solution would be a tax credit for tourism, spa businesses and catering calculated on the increase in costs from September 2021 to September 2022,” Garavaglia said.

Germany is also introducing some serious measures to save the country’s energy. More specifically, starting in September, public buildings and monuments are no longer allowed to be lit up at night, and neither are billboards.

The public buildings are allowed to be heated only up to 19 degrees, while the hot water for washing the hands will be cut off. In addition, private pools heated by gas will have to stay cold.