Tony Loeb

🛒 Italy's Council of Ministers is considering a measure today to outlaw the sale and manipulation of online reviews. Drafted by the Ministry for Enterprises and Made in Italy within the annual bill for SMEs, the law will ban the purchase, sale, or incentive-driven manipulation of reviews. Consumers will have to verify their identity and confirm that they have used the reviewed service within 15 days. Reviews must be detailed and accurate, or businesses can request removal or publicly respond. Obsolete reviews can be deleted after two years or if issues reported are resolved.

🏖️ Filcams Cgil, Fisascat Cisl, and Uiltucs, alongside Aica and Federturismo Confindustria, signed a new national tourism industry contract, effective for three years from January 1, 2025. The deal introduces a €200 salary increase over four installments, five for travel agencies and tour operators, including a one-off €450 payment, €320 for travel companies. Measures also address service outsourcing, ensuring adherence to national sector agreements, and include provisions for service internalization. Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè highlights additional government measures, like the tax exemption increase on tips from 25% to 30% and the income threshold from €50,000 to €75,000, plus a special supplement for night and overtime work. Vice President of the Senate Gian Marco Centinaio emphasizes the contract's role in enhancing salaries, guarantees for workers, particularly women and parents, and fostering local contracts.

🏖 The Fontana di Trevi reopened with a cap of 400 visitors at a time after maintenance, aligning with the Jubilee year. The water flow resumed in the iconic Roman monument. Visiting hours are from 9 am to 9 pm daily with stewards, and unrestricted post-9 pm. Restrictions include no eating, smoking, drinking, or sitting on the edge. Visits are currently free, with potential future fees.

🚉 Electrical fault disrupted train service on Bari-Pescara line, causing delays up to 230 minutes for High Speed, Intercity, and Regional trains. Additional cancellations and route limitations were reported. Technical issues also affected the Tyrrhenian side on the Salerno-Paola line between Pisciotta and Vallo della Lucania. Services are gradually returning to normal, with trains operating at reduced speeds as a precaution.

🏠 75% of National Identification Codes (CIN) issued for the 563,000 properties registered on the tourism database by January 1. Italian Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, satisfied with the 4-month achievement aligning national and regional databases ahead of the PNRR target.