L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 4 T h e s u m m e r i s c o m i n g , a n d I t a l y i s g e t t i n g ready to welcome millions of people eager to enjoy its beauty. This is nothing new, as the essen- tial role of tourism in the country's economy and wel- fare is well known. Indeed, tourism signifi- cantly contributes to both Italy's GDP and employment: in 2019, before the pandemic, Italy attracted over 94 million international tourists, making it one of the top tourist desti- nations globally. In 2023, global tourism in Italy nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 88% of the 2019 figures, and the future looks even brighter, with the U N W T O ( U n i t e d N a t i o n s World Tourism Organization) expecting the country to sur- pass pre-pandemic levels in 2024 to reach, according to a n F M I m a r k e t a n a l y s i s , $ 2 7 . 3 b i l l i o n . T h e s a m e research shows the potential for growth in the field is truly enormous, with tourism- derived revenues potentially reaching $51 billion by 2034, a t a c o m p o u n d a n n u a l growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. In this positive context, c o a s t a l a n d b e a c h tourism remains a major draw, especially this time of the year, with regions like Liguria, Tuscany, and Puglia popular among domestic and international visitors. Beach tourism also supports a vari- ety of jobs, from hospitality and food services to life - guards and environmental management, all of which contribute to the country's economy in positive ways. B u t t h e r e i s a l s o a m o r e "romantic" side to Italy's beach tourism, that summer music tormentoni, young l o v e s b l o s s o m i n g o n t h e sand, and, of course, family vacations at the s t a b i l i - menti balneari, a unique f e a t u r e o f I t a l i a n c o a s t a l tourism, providing services s u c h a s s u n b e d r e n t a l s , restaurants, and recreational activities, which have a long and well-documented histo- ry. The tradition of beach hol- idays in Italy dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this peri- o d , t h e I t a l i a n R i v i e r a began to attract the Euro- pean aristocracy and upper classes, who were drawn to its mild climate and beautiful coastal landscapes. Resorts s u c h a s S a n r e m o a n d Viareggio emerged as fash- i o n a b l e d e s t i n a t i o n s f o r leisure and health, offering l u x u r i o u s f a c i l i t i e s a n d promenades: this era marked the beginning of organized beach tourism, with the cre- ation of our stabilimenti bal- neari. Post-World War II, the country saw a significant expansion in beach tourism: t h a n k s t o t h e e c o n o m i c b o o m o f t h e 1 9 5 0 s a n d 1 9 6 0 s , h o l i d a y s b e c a m e more accessible to the mid- dle class, and coastal towns, particularly in regions like Emilia-Romagna, experi- enced rapid development — who isn't still charmed by the p o e t i c a l b e a u t y o f 1 9 6 0 s Rimini, as told by the great Federico Fellini in I Vitelloni. The growth of the automo- bile industry and improved road infrastructure facilitat- ed this boom, allowing Ital- ians to travel more easily to coastal destinations. T o d a y , b e a c h t o u r i s m remains a vital part of Italy's economic landscape. The hospitality industry, includ- ing hotels, restaurants, and e n t e r t a i n m e n t v e n u e s , thrives in coastal areas. Sea- sonal employment opportu- nities are abundant, ranging f r o m l i f e g u a r d s a n d t o u r guides to hospitality staff and environmental mainte- nance workers. This sector n o t o n l y s u p p o r t s l o c a l economies but also enhances Italy's international reputa- tion as a premier holiday destination. The awarding of B a n d i e r e B l u ( B l u e Flags), which takes place every year just shortly before the beginning of the hot sea- son, plays an important role in this context. A prestigious internation- al recognition awarded by the Foundation for Environ- mental Education (FEE) to beaches, marinas, and sus- t a i n a b l e b o a t i n g t o u r i s m operators that uphold high standards of environmental q u a l i t y a n d s a f e t y , t h e B a n d i e r e B l u A w a r d w a s established in 1987. The pro- gram was designed to pro- mote sustainable tourism and environmental educa- tion, encouraging coastal municipalities and marinas to achieve and maintain the highest standards of environ- mental management. T o b e a w a r d e d a B l u e Flag, locations must adhere to 32 stringent criteria that encompass various aspects of environmental quality, safe- t y , a n d s e r v i c e s . K e y , o f course, is the quality of the water, which must be classi- fied as excellent over the pre- vious four years based on regular testing. Environmen- tal management is another critical area, which includes Ciao Estate! Italy welcomes the sunny season announcing her most beautiful beaches FRANCESCA BEZZONE NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS CONTINUED TO PAGE 6 A peaceful corner of the Tuscan coast. This year, the region obtained 18 Blue Flags (Photo: Bennymarty/Dreamstime)

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