Giuridico e Amministrativo

🔥 Los Angeles faced a new blaze, following fires that started on January 7. Over 50,000 people in the area have been issued evacuation orders or warnings. Firefighters are reportedly making good progress on containment. The recent fire affected Lake Castaic area, roughly 60 kilometers from the city. California's Highway 5, running north to south, has been closed in both directions due to the fire.

📌 In Firenze, Francesco Casini condemns the committee 'Salviamo Firenze' for applying anti key box stickers throughout the city. Jacopo Vicini, the Tourism Councilor, emphasizes the need for balance between residents, workers, and visitors, without waging war on short-term rentals. Lorenzo Fagnoni, CEO of Appartaments Florence, denounces actions that harm entrepreneurs and foster a climate of prejudice and hate, affecting thousands employed in essential services.

🚀 Wizz Air discontinued its premium-rate call center number on January 21, aiming to reduce additional costs for consumers. The airline encourages passengers to use its online self-service platform for managing bookings, obtaining flight information, and handling issues regarding delays or cancellations. Wizz Air provides 24/7 assistance through an online chatbot, Amelia, and live chat support in English and, from Monday to Friday (9 am-6 pm), in Italian and German in Italy and Germany.

🚪 An Italian law bans key boxes for vacation rental management, requiring in-person check-ins and direct guest identity verification with physical documentation. Non-compliance can lead to penalties, including the obligation to submit guest details to the Alloggiati Web portal within 24 hours of check-in. Chekin is working with authorities on possible exemptions and advising users to adhere to new legal requirements, ensuring compliance until at least November 2025. Hosts must now revise operational strategies previously reliant on online check-in processes.

🛫 Non-European passengers now require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom. Recently, the UK Home Office has decided to increase the cost of ETAs by 60%. However, transit passengers at UK airports are exempt from needing an ETA. This decision, welcomed by Abta and its public affairs director Luke Petherbridge, aims to maintain vital air connections despite fears of increased travel and tourism industry tax burdens potentially stifling growth.

📅 Hartsfield Jackson International in Atlanta tops global airport rankings for the 5th consecutive year in 2024, with nearly 63 million passengers, marking a 2% increase from 2023, yet 1% below 2019 levels. No changes in the top 10 until the 7th place, as Guanzhou Bayun climbs 3 spots with a 12% increase from 2023, while Shanghai Pudong jumps from 15th to 9th with a 29% rise. Denver closes the top 10. Dubai leads international traffic, followed by London. Seoul and Singapore rise in ranks, as Paris Charles De Gaulle and Amsterdam fall by 7% and 3% from 2019, respectively. In Europe, Heathrow, Istanbul, and Paris dominate, with Munich overtaking Gatwick for 9th. Rome's Fiumicino holds 8th place with over 30 million passengers, witnessing the largest capacity increase of 21% from 2023, and 9% above 2019.

💳 Wamo and Adyen have teamed up to offer hotels and travel agencies a free POS with no transaction fees, starting in the Italian market, with plans to expand to other markets. Wamo allows business owners to manage staff expenses, internal payments, and foreign exchange services on one platform, along with Visa debit card usage for company expenses and 1% cashback on those transactions. The wamo terminal is already compliant with the latest Budget Law, mandating integration between electronic payment systems and cash registers by January 1, 2026.

🔥 In Italy, property managers must comply with updated fire safety regulations for short-term rentals, including installing fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors in each property. Fire extinguishers must be accessible in a common area and of adequate capacity for the property size and fire risks. Carbon monoxide detectors are mandatory in rooms with combustion appliances. Equipment must be certified to European standards and undergo regular maintenance checks. Documentation of safety inspections and equipment certifications is crucial for compliance. These measures aim to improve safety for both tourists and residents.

💰 In 2024, Italian municipalities collected over €1 billion from the tourist tax for the first time, a 27% increase from 2023. The National Observatory Jfc predicts a 17% growth in 2025, expecting revenues to reach €1.18 billion. Rome alone contributed nearly €287 million, followed by Milan and Florence with about €7 million each, and Venice with €4 million. Rimini topped beach destinations with €14 million. The year-end holidays brought in €53 million, with New Year's Eve generating €6.8 million.

🏖 Italy's Ministry of Tourism extended the deadline for applications for high-level tourism training project funding to February 14, 2025. Applications must be submitted exclusively via certified email to fondoformazione.mitur@pec.aci.it, aiming to establish a National Strategic Hub for High-Level Tourism Training.