Giuridico e Amministrativo

🏖 By the end of 2025, 80% of tourism operators will use Artificial Intelligence (AI), as revealed in the "Scenari e Opportunità nell’era digitale: Innovazione e Turismo 2025" whitepaper, presented by Repower at the GatewAI conference on April 4th in Bergamo. AI adoption in the tourism sector (tour operators, hotels, restaurants) increased by 23% annually between 2020 and 2023. AI is expected to create 400,000 new jobs by 2035, and last year, tourism to small Lombard villages rose by 22%, compared to a 10% increase for larger cities. AI applications in dynamic pricing, language translation, and booking automation are being studied, stressing the need for employee training to keep up with competition.

🏖 From Paris, Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè discussed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in tourism at the OECD Tourism Committee. She presented ideas for an AI incubator for tourism, led by Italy, to support small and medium-sized enterprises and promote training. Santanchè highlighted the G7 Tourism results from Florence in November, emphasized human-centered technology and sustainable tourism, and mentioned initiatives like Tourism Digital Hub and funded AI-based startups. Italy also participates in European data projects DATES, DEPLOYTOUR, and D3HUB, and calls for regulated online reviews.

💻 Trenitalia's website has been relaunched with a completely revamped interface for a more fluid and efficient user experience. The redesign focuses on mobile usability and provides more informational spaces to offer a comprehensive view of products and services. New advanced features for quick information search and comparison have been introduced, along with the most used customer functions on the homepage, such as ticket purchasing and modification, real-time train tracking, and customer support. The site also plans to integrate AI-supported content search.

🔐 Italy's Ministry of the Interior recognized non-physical 'de visu' checks. A November police circular had made self check-in illegal, sparking protests. Security reasons cited for the ban in light of the Jubilee 2025. Meeting on March 20 with industry players (including Airbnb, Booking, Expedia) to discuss a solution. New guidelines expected before Easter, allowing remote identification. Self check-in offers flexibility for guests, convenience for hosts, and enhanced security with digital tracking, conforming to international standards. Traditional 'de visu' verification isn't inherently safer, with digital tools offering more precise fraud prevention through OTP codes and biometric data.

🏠 Renting out a property on Airbnb in tourist-rich Italy can be lucrative. Starting involves creating an Airbnb account, posting a listing with property type, exact location, number of bedrooms, beds, bathrooms, and guest capacity. An effective ad requires high-quality photos, a compelling description with nearby attractions and amenities, and clear house rules. Pricing should be competitive and consider seasonal and special events. Legal requirements include registering the property, collecting and reporting tourist taxes, guest information, and for businesses, issuing electronic invoices through SDI, which Chekin can streamline. Chekin helps automate check-in, guest registration, tax collection, and invoicing. A 14-day free trial is offered for their services.

✈ Ita Airways is set to join Star Alliance by early 2026, following a positive verdict from the alliance's executive council. Theo Panagiotoulias, CEO of Star Alliance, expressed strong confidence in Ita Airways, enhancing the network's global reach. Joerg Eberhart, CEO of Ita Airways, is excited about integrating Made in Italy excellence into the alliance. Ita Airways will add 360 daily flights to Star Alliance's network, boosting its European presence, particularly in Rome and Milan. Dieter Vranckx, Lufthansa Group's CCO, committed to a smooth integration process.

📌 Alessandra Priante, Enit president, reflects on the narrative surrounding the Jubilee event and its impact on tourism. Her comments came alongside easyJet's opening of a new base in Rome. Enit admits to overemphasizing crowd estimates for the Jubilee year, creating a panic effect that deterred regular tourists. Early spring data from Roman hoteliers indicate a slight decline in arrivals compared to 2024, despite expectations of significant tourist inflows.

📅 The UK introduced the Eta for EU citizens on April 3, 2025, for short stays up to 6 months. Thailand aims to surpass 39 million international visitors this year, introducing a Digital Arrival Card in May to replace paper cards. The Seychelles will soon require travel authorization for sea arrivals. New Zealand increased its entry fee from 35 to 100 dollars, costing Europeans an additional 56 euros, potentially 70 with entrance authorization. The Balearic Islands will raise their 'ecotax' from 1 to 2.5 euros and up to 6 euros a night during peak summer, abolishing it in January and February. Greece will impose a 20 euro fee to disembark at Mykonos and Santorini from June. The EU's Etias, costing 7 euros, will be required for non-EU travelers to the Schengen area by the end of the year. South Korea extended the K-Eta exemption for 67 countries, including Italy, until December 31, 2025.

🚗 Hertz Italy expands its rental options for travel agencies on hertz-gsa.it, integrating commercial vehicles like the Fiat Doblò and Ford Transit, including special setups for construction materials or perishable goods. Agencies can book by selecting 'Vans', entering dates and locations, with availability confirmed immediately or within 48-72 business hours if a request is made.

✈️ Ryanair launched a new route connecting Prague and Trieste, reducing the distance between Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Czech Republic. The service, which started on the morning of April 3, 2025, includes two weekly flights departing on Thursdays at 09:30 and Sundays at 06:15. The inaugural flight from Trieste Airport featured attendees such as Paolo Petziol, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic; Antonio Marano, President of Trieste Airport; and other executives from the airport's commercial office.