Giuridico e Amministrativo

🛫 Spanish travel agents are protesting the new 'booking registry', effective with a decree by the Ministry of the Interior, which mandates registration and information duties for lodging and vehicle rental businesses. A massive protest was organized at Turespana's Fitur stand in Madrid, where industry associations presented a manifesto to Ana Muñoz, Director General for Tourism Policy, arguing the measure doesn't exclude travel agencies and tour operators as requested. They claim this unique regulation affects competitiveness as some travelers are unwilling to provide all data at booking.

🔥 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.

✈️ Air Astana to launch Almaty-Guangzhou service starting March 30, 2025. Flights will operate thrice weekly—Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays—departing Almaty at 20:50 and arriving in Guangzhou at 05:45 the next day. Return flights leave Guangzhou at 06:50, arriving in Almaty at 10:20 local time. The airline's expansion in China is a significant step, building on over 20 years of service, including seven weekly flights to Beijing and four to Urumqi.

✈ Volotea to increase seats for sale from Naples by 18% in 2025, reaching 621,000 compared to 525,000 in 2024. Flights will rise from 3,115 to 3,571, serving 22 destinations across Italy, Croatia, France, Greece, Spain, and Denmark. Starting July 6, a new international flight to Marseille from Salerno will launch. In 2024, Volotea employed up to 58 employees at its Capodichino base. The expansion aims to support economic and tourist growth in Campania.

🚢 Nizza's Mayor, Christian Estrosi, plans to ban cruise ships with more than 900 passengers from docking at the French port starting next summer. The policy targets ships over 190 meters, potentially impacting the 124 cruise ships scheduled to visit Nizza in 2025. This move is expected to reduce cruise passenger arrivals by 70%, as Estrosi criticizes these "floating hotels" for pollution and low-cost tourism that doesn't contribute economically. Upcoming legislation could disrupt ship itineraries planned years in advance.

📰 China is set to welcome visitors with memorable experiences in the new year. Laura Grassi from Chinasia by Idee per Viaggiare offers nine itineraries, including visits to the panda homeland in Chengdu and Silk Road tours. Chen Jianyang of the Chinese National Tourist Office in Italy anticipates a positive 2024 and promising tourism in 2025. Visa-free entry for trips up to 30 days has been introduced to promote travel. Air China facilitates direct flights from Rome and Milan to Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu.

🏖 Aefi joined the 'Patto per il turismo' initiated by the Italian Ministry of Tourism during the second edition of the International Tourism Forum. Loredana Sarti, the association's general secretary, represented President Maurizio Danese to sign the pact, aiming to outline a common path of shared actions to boost the growth of Italy's tourism industry.

🔥 In Turchia, 76 victims confirmed in a hotel fire at Grand Kartal on Monday; it took 10 hours to extinguish. National mourning declared. Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated the hotel had operational approval for 2021-2024. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya assured swift investigations, promising accountability. Nine arrests made, including the hotel owner.