Giuridico e Amministrativo

📌 Booking.com commenced compliance with the Digital Markets Act in the European Economic Area on November 13. The response comes after hotelier associations' accusations. Following its designation as a 'gatekeeper' by the European Commission, Booking Holdings engaged with stakeholders to design conformity solutions, ensuring continuous innovation to meet evolving customer and supplier partner needs.

🛫 Spain's Ministry of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda imposes a €179 million fine on low-cost airlines Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, Norwegian Air, and Volotea for abusive practices concerning hand luggage policies. Ryanair faces the largest portion of the fine at €107,775,777, one year after the case opened. CEO Michael O'Leary announces plans to appeal, claiming the fines violate EU law (Reg 1008/2008) and will be overturned. The European Commission has urged airlines to unify luggage policies, while IATA supports airlines, arguing that charging for hand luggage offers consumer choice.

🌊 Italy’s first regulation on underwater tourism, part of the "Ddl Valorizzazione della risorsa mare" initiative, was approved recently. It aims to enhance the sector by mapping marine routes and establishing safety criteria and environmental, faunal, archaeological, and cultural relevance. Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè described the move as essential to make Italian tourism more attractive, citing that tourism generates approximately 29% of the value-added and employs about 40% in the blue economy sector. The new law also promotes international cooperation in recreational diving activities.

📌 A travel agency in Saintfield, near Belfast, faced a critical error when IATA, through the BSP system, mistakenly charged them £40,500, threatening their survival. They were informed that this amount would be withdrawn from their business account and ticket sales would be banned due to exceeding their £7,000 BSP limit. For 10 days, reported by ttgmedia.com, the agency could only issue tickets using customer credit cards while unsuccessfully trying to contact IATA. However, a day before their financial year's end on October 30, the funds were returned, safeguarding the agency's financial balance.

🚨 Iata criticizes Spain's fine on airlines for hand luggage fees, claiming it violates European regulations and impacts pricing freedom. This contentious decision described as "terrifying" by Iata could lead to all airlines including the cost in tickets, eliminating consumer choice and value. The confrontation appears to be far from over.

🚢 The Red Sea Governorate received a report this morning about the disappearance of the tourist ship Sea Story during a dive near Marsa Alam, Egypt. Governor Amr Hanafi coordinated a search for 31 tourists of various nationalities and 14 crew members. The tourists had departed on November 24 for a trip until November 29 to Hurghada Marina. Some survivors have been rescued, and the boat had 18 cabins for up to 36 passengers. No Italian tourists were reported aboard.

💰 During Black Friday, Italians plan trips 50 days in advance for short breaks and 85-95 days for longer vacations of up to a month, per Skyscanner. Last year's searches focused on European destinations, with Spain topping the list, followed by the UK, France, Germany, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Best deals were for Madrid, Tenerife, and Prague. More info at www.skyscanner.com.

🏖️ In Barcelona, the tourist tax is set to increase by an additional €4, as indicated by the city government in collaboration with the Catalan government. Currently, tourists pay a variable rate based on hotel category (€1 to €3.5) or cruise ship stay duration (€2 to €3). Barcelona adds a surcharge of €4 to the general Catalonia-wide tariff, which may double to €8 with the new ordinance. Mayor Collboni emphasizes that this increase from €4 to €8 will enhance social returns for residents and help cover the cost of services used by tourists.

🎲 In Italy, a pact for tourism focusing on issues like sustainability and AI was signed at the National Tourism Forum. Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but will honor tickets and loyalty points. Thailand targets 40 million arrivals and about 94 billion euros in tourism revenue for the next year, possibly through gambling legalization. Booking Holdings plans staff cuts despite a Q3 revenue of $8 billion and a $3.7 billion EBITDA, up 12% from 2023. Italy is essential for the Minor hotel group, which aims to expand. Pompeii caps daily visitors at 20,000 to improve the experience, possibly reducing to 15,000. Protests in Florence against short-term rentals led to calls for key-box bans. The Campuestohan Highland Resort in the Philippines opened a new 15-room hotel shaped like a 35-meter high chicken.

🌍 Presidente della Regione Basilicata, Vito Bardi, celebrated the success of Roots-in, the International Tourism Exchange of Origins, in Matera three years after its initiation. The event, addressing overtourism, promotes local traditions and culture by connecting Italian descendants with their ancestral lands, benefiting especially the smaller villages. Roots-in represents a strategy for international visibility and strengthening ties with the diaspora.