Giuridico e Amministrativo

🏠 Giovanni Rana's resort on Lake Garda won a legal victory when the Veneto regional administrative tribunal (Tar) dismissed a lawsuit from Count Agostino Guarenti. The suit aimed to annul construction permits but was rejected as it was filed past the 60-day deadline after work commencement. This is just one of six appeals against the resort in the protected Punta San Vigilio area.

🏠 TTG Travel Experience e InOut | The Hospitality Community hanno incontrato a Milano per il TTG Day, un evento focalizzato su innovazione e impresa nel settore ospitalità. Il TTG Italia ha raccontato l'evento in tempo reale fino alle 16:00. Il prossimo appuntamento è previsto per TTG Travel Experience dall'8 al 10 ottobre a Rimini. I temi principali hanno riguardato il bilanciamento tra razionalità e irrazionalità, il ruolo dell'intelligenza artificiale (IA) e l'importanza del tocco umano nel turismo. L'evento ha visto la partecipazione di esperti di settore e di esponenti del turismo, con l'obiettivo di offrire spunti di riflessione e case history per una nuova etica d'impresa.

🎮 The Italian Ministry of Tourism launched a national call for tour guides, receiving 27,000 applications. This number could potentially double the current 14,000 licensed tour guides, possibly tripling the professional count within the year. Valeria Gerli, ConfGuide president, expressed concerns about declining service quality and "overtourism" effects. ConfGuide criticized the reduction in qualification requirements from a degree to a diploma and foreign language proficiency from two languages to one at B2 level.

✈ Spirit Airlines, poised to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy, received approval from a New York court for its restructuring plan. The airline anticipates new investments of $350 million and plans to issue $840 million in new secured senior debt post-Chapter 11. Additionally, Spirit expects a new credit line up to $300 million.

✈ Norse trims its fleet from 15 to 8 aircraft, targeting increased profitability. Four planes leased to IndiGo for new long-haul routes, deals starting in H2 of this year. Three Boeing 787s already returned to leasing companies. CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen focuses on the top eight performing routes, with Los Angeles and Miami routes currently not in Norse's winter schedule. Norse endured a pre-tax loss of $135 million in 2024 but achieved its first December profit, predicting a profitable 2025 with an expected average load factor of 90%. Ticket sales up by 38% and average ticket price by 13% compared to last year. Norse aims for annual savings of $40 million by autumn, including closing some crew bases.

🛫 Ectaa, the European association of travel agents, criticizes the draft report on the revision of the travel package directive in Brussels. The report is said to overlook market operators' concerns, failing to enhance consumer protection or industry stability. Ectaa is disappointed by the lack of in-depth dialogue and by the report's definition of a package, which now includes two sales on the same website within 72 hours, complicating retailers' ability to distinguish between a package and a single service. The association challenges the 25% limit on advance payments, which could affect retailers' liquidity. Travel package directives represent less than 15% of travel services sold in the EU market, a decrease from 40% in 2013, and Ectaa urges the EU to improve protection for the 85% of consumers using single services.

🌍 Boscolo, focusing on China, extends its travel program with tours ranging from 12 to 15 days, including traditional destinations like Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. Domenico Cocozza, the destination manager, highlights the inclusion of unique Chinese locations and activities. The "Ancient China and the Land of the Pandas" tour features a 12-day trip with visits to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and the Giant Buddha of Leshan. "China: Sublime Enchantment" offers a 12-day journey with terraced rice fields of Longji and a cruise on the Li River. The "China: Celestial Empire" tour explores 'water towns' near Shanghai and the city of Pingyao. "China at its Best" is a revamped 14-day itinerary with an overnight stay at a hotel near the Great Wall. "Fantastic China: From Metropolises to Flying Mountains" is a new 12-day tour including Zhangjiajie Park, which inspired the film Avatar. Lastly, the exclusive online 15-day "Grand Tour of China" combines highlights from other tours, such as Chengdu pandas, the Giant Buddha of Leshan, Longji rice terraces, and the Li River cruise.

📍 In 2024, IATA reported a 1.13 incident rate per million flights, higher than 2023 (1.09) but better than the five-year average (1.25). There were 7 fatal accidents among 40.6 million flights in 2024, compared to just 1 in 2023. Europe experienced 9 incidents, slightly increasing from 0.95 in 2023. North America improved, with 12 incidents down from a rate of 1.53 to 1.20 per million. The Middle East and North Africa had 2 incidents, with a rate of 1.08, better than 2023's 1.12 and the five-year average.

✈️ At Munich Airport, Ver.di union called a 48-hour strike on February 28, affecting German air transport. To mitigate impact, airlines preemptively canceled 80% of scheduled flights. Travelers are advised to check flight statuses online due to potential further disruptions.

💰 Quartu Sant’Elena's "tassa di soggiorno" (tourist tax) postponed to June 2025, initially set from March 1 to October 31. Mayor Graziano Milla introduced the amending. The delay allows hospitality businesses to prepare, aiming for clear information on institutional sites and tourism portals. Expected revenue of €200,000 dedicated to sector promotion. For 2025, reduced rates set: €2 for 4-star hotels, €1.50 for 3-star, €1 for 2-star and non-hotel accommodations. From 2026, the tax will apply from March to October.