Emilio De Risi

📊 Emilio De Risi's "21 Grammi di Turismo" reflects on the year 2025, highlighting a notable feature on Palermo's mafia tourism. UNESCO has recognized Italian cuisine as intangible cultural heritage, potentially boosting tourism but also raising concerns about culinary gentrification and standardization. In Bolzano, political dissent grows over increased wealthy tourist numbers and shorter stays, causing infrastructure strain and price hikes. Research from Common Wealth highlights that 80% of tourism revenue in the Caribbean returns to multinational companies.

📈 In November 2025, tourists arrived at Buckingham Palace in London expecting a Christmas market, only to find locked gates due to a misleading AI-generated post. In the U.S., delivery orders rose, with 3 out of 4 restaurant orders involving delivery last year, doubling since 2019. American Express GBT is considering a sale post-acquisition of Cwt, while Marriott expands into Laos, and Minor International plans a hotel REIT with European and Asian assets.

🚢 In 2024, cruise passengers rose by nearly 10% to 35 million. The Financial Times reported increased interest among Gen Z and millennials in the U.S. market. An Abta survey indicated 20% of 25-34-year-olds cruised in the past year, up from 5% in 2019. Economic factors, including cheaper labor from countries like the Philippines, play a role. Netflix opens a theme park in Philadelphia, expanding to Dallas. Radisson launched Creator Hub for influencers with 1,000-30,000 followers.

💼 Emilio De Risi highlights a labor shortage in tourism, forecasting a 16% workforce deficit by 2035. A guide collapsed at the Colosseum amid August heat. In Tuscany, hotel staff faced a €1,000 fine for not completing the season. In Mallorca, tourism debates focus on affluent tourists. A Polish village, Pniewo, features 32 km of WWII tunnels, now home to 40,000 bats and open for tourism since 2011.