Giuridico e Amministrativo

💰 Confindustria Alberghi, Assohotel Confesercenti, and Federalberghi appealed to protect the tourism sector and invest for competitiveness. The tourist tax, established in 1910 and reintroduced in 2010, can now be levied by all municipalities. In 2024, Italy's tourism registered a record 458.4 million presences, yielding €1.024 billion. According to Massimo Ferruzzi, the tax revenue is expected to increase by nearly 16% to €1.186 billion in 2025, with 1389 municipalities applying it. However, less than 20% of the tax is used for tourism-related purposes, with some funds diverted to cover municipal expenses. An amendment may allow up to 50% of the tax to be used for current expenses for 2025/2026.

✈ Travelers face disruptions today due to strikes at Palermo and Milan Malpensa airports, coinciding with easyJet flight attendants based in Italy striking until 14:30. Another strike in Greece has air traffic controllers stopping work for 24 hours, with significant flight interruptions expected by AirHelp. Mariana Giuliano of AirHelp reminds passengers of their EU rights: food and drink after a few hours, alternative flights or refunds, accommodation, transfers, and compensation up to €600 for cancellations or delays over three hours. Passengers should keep all boarding passes and receipts. AirHelp's online assistance is available 24/7.

✈ United Airlines will launch flights between Rome and Denver starting May 2, doubling its year-round non-stop services from Rome to New York/Newark to two flights daily until December 2, 2025. The seasonal direct link from Rome to Washington D.C. is now extended year-round, without interruption from January 6 to February 19, 2026. Seasonal flights from Rome to Chicago O'Hare will operate until December 19, 2025, offering more than a 16% increase in seats from Rome for summer 2025.

🚗 Itabus launches in Liguria, connecting Genova and La Spezia with major Italian cities including Rome, Florence, Siena, Lucca, Pistoia, Milan, Naples, Caserta, Pisa, and Bergamo. They offer four daily connections (two each way) with varying arrival times in La Spezia (13:11, 16:09, 00:46, 3:11) and Genova (11:30, 17:45, 23:05, 4:50). The service also links these cities to airports in Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa, facilitating travel with scheduled departures and arrivals designed to meet the needs of travelers.

💰 FARE (Federazione nazionale Associazioni Ricettività Extralberghiera) criticizes the use of the tourist tax by local administrations for covering budget gaps. FARE President Elia Rosciano notes that over 80% of the tax revenue is often used to fill budget deficits, not for enhancing tourist services as intended. FARE advocates for clear restrictions on the use of these funds, aligning them with the tax's purpose of improving the tourism economy.

🚘 Noleggiare partners with Trenitalia Intercity and Regionale to offer more flexible travel options. Passengers traveling with Intercity and Regionale get a 10% discount on online car rental bookings. X-GO loyalty program members receive a 15% reduction, including a free additional driver, complimentary young driver supplement, and unlimited mileage. The initiative aims to provide a more convenient, tailored travel alternative for passengers.

🛑 Alessandro Onorato, Rome's Tourism Councillor, responds to a €20 million fine issued by Antitrust to Coop Culture and six operators over the Colosseum ticketing issue. He criticizes groups that inflate ticket prices, adversely affecting tourists, guides, operators, and Romans. Onorato calls for more protection and control to prevent further abuses, emphasizing the negative impact on Rome's tourism experience and reputation.

💸 China is adopting a purchase refund model for foreigner's tax-free shopping. Announced by the State Taxation Administration, the system aims to surpass the current VAT refund mechanism available only for flights departing from China. Initially trialed in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang, it's now set for a national rollout.

📂 In Italy, vacation rental property managers must comply with GDPR and local privacy laws by 2025. Key requirements include clear guest data handling policies, active consent without preselected checkboxes, and secure data storage with access control. Chekin offers tools for online check-in, GDPR-compliant consent management, automatic data reporting, and customizable data retention settings. Non-compliance isn't an option; it's essential for reputation protection and guest experience enhancement.

🚢 Italy's nautical tourism, particularly boat charters, boasts a €200 million turnover, potentially doubling to €400 million with occasional rentals. With over 2 million users and 20,000 boats, Luciano Rigli from Kiriacoulis Holiday highlights the sector's underappreciated potential. Italy's 6,500 travel agencies could earn an average of €62,000 each, plus commissions, from this market. Rigli's online booking platform, Filoscafo, is set to tap into this opportunity.