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With the travel industry critically grounded due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, Italy’s touring in 2020 recorded a steep slump. A country, whose economy hugely depends on its tourism industry because of its beautiful and attractive holiday destinations, saw a slaughtered season this year.
In early 2020, the country had emerged from the pandemic and started recording growth in its tourism sector. The summer season in Italy offered a ray of hope after staying halted due to days of lockdown. The country welcomed its visitors.
But as the sun shines brighter when it arises, but brings darkness when it sets down, Italy too saw its tourism industry drowning in its approaching winter season. With many travel restrictions imposed globally, the revenues lost from Italy’s sinking travel industry leaves a deep financial gap.
The CEO and Founder of a travel planning service named Travel Italian Style said that tourists are what they need to continue with the business. Their guides, drivers and other workers are exploring other sources of income for the fear of losing the job for a season.
The government of Italy has allotted cash to help support many businesses saw the harshest of times due to COVID-19 pandemic. But the loss forecasted in 2020 from visitors coming to Italy from abroad is € 24.6 billion. In fact, the domestic traveler spending on tourism has gone down to € 43.6 billion, as said the president of the Italian national tourist board, Giorgio Palmucci. He added that even with hopes of recovery and growth after two years, the damage is likely to be extensive.
All the cities in Italy, especially Florence, Venice and Rome, which is completely dependent on foreign tourists, are projected to be significantly impacted. The country’s tourism industry has been on the brink with many international visitors having stayed away from Italy this year.
The people of Italy are now worried about the approaching winter. The earlier projections of tourism revival in September and October now appear to have dashed away for the fear of a second wave. Additionally, Italians and visitors from overseas are cancelling or postponing their plans.
A view at the statistics clearly portrays an ugly picture of the industry. As reported by the Italian Confederation of Business, 70 percent of hotels in cities like Florence and Rome and 20 percent in coastal areas did not even resume post lockdown. A projection by the Italian National Institute of Statistics says that 60 percent of businesses in the tourism sector fear of imminent downfall.
Italy registers a major number of visitors from America. It is the biggest source of tourism for the country. But the ongoing ban on the travelers arriving from America is also impacting heavily on the tourism industry of Italy. This is the first year that Italy’s tourism has witnessed zero profits because of either 100 percent of the tickets being refunded due to cancellations or the bookings being postponed to 2021.
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