Giuridico e Amministrativo

💸 Aicalf, representing low-fare airlines in Italy, opposes the new 50-cent increase per passenger in the local tax for boarding rights on flights to non-European destinations. The tax applies to airports with annual traffic of over 10 million passengers. Aicalf's president, Alessandro Fonti, warns this hike could harm competitiveness, as demonstrated by studies presented in parliament, and directly affect passengers who rely on the affected airports for travel beyond tourism. The measure contrasts with the Ministry of Transport's plans to reduce the tax nationwide.

🏨 Telepass introduced its Fast Track service at Venice Airport, similar to its existing services at Malpensa and Fiumicino. Customers can access expedited security checks for free. Service includes a dedicated lane, requires showing a boarding pass, and a QR code on a smartphone. Aldo Agostinelli, Telepass's chief consumer sales and marketing officer, emphasizes the aim for seamless mobility and a comprehensive digital experience throughout the journey.

🎄 In Italy, 11.5 million nationals will spend the Christmas and New Year holidays away from home in 2024, an increase from 2023. Coldiretti/Ixè research shows a longer average holiday duration of 6 days, with 44% using a second home and 20% staying within their region. Spending is up 12%, averaging €674 per person.

💸 According to the Mastercard Economics Institute's 2025 Outlook, the global economy is expected to moderately accelerate, seeing a 3.2% growth compared to 3.1% in 2024. In Italy, there's a shift in consumer spending with a 1.4% decrease in international travel expenses, a preference for fast food over traditional restaurants by 1.3%, and a 1.2% drop in luxury goods expenditure, particularly in clothing. Despite a challenging 2024, digital payments in Italy grew, reaching between 465 and 475 billion euros, equaling cash for the first time and potentially surpassing it in 2025. The "travel twins" trend emerges, with travelers choosing less expensive or less crowded destinations, like Dublin over London. Rome and Milan remain top winter choices for tourists from the Middle East, Africa, and North America. Italians' Winter Top 5 includes Budapest, Tenerife, Sharm El Sheikh, Abu Dhabi, and Krakow. For more information: [Mastercard Economic Outlook 2025](https://www.mastercard.com/news/europe/it-it/redazione/comunicati-stampa/it-it/mastercard-economic-outlook-2025-tendenze-e-previsioni-macroeconomiche-dal-mastercard-economics-institute/)

💰 Italy's tax revenue from the tourist tax is expected to reach €976 million in 2024 and is projected to increase to nearly €1.06 billion in 2025, marking a +7.8% year-over-year growth. The increase is attributed to the Jubilee in Rome and the addition of 25 municipalities imposing the tax, totaling 1,315 municipalities. The Lazio region leads with €295 million, a +55.6% increase from 2023, followed by Lombardy (€108 million), Tuscany (€100.3 million), and Veneto (€98 million). For more information, visit: https://www.jfc.it/.

☕ Francesca Bieker, coffee taster and online school owner, highlights Italy's lack of coffee culture following a Report episode. She discusses inadequate barista training, poor hygiene practices, and over-roasted coffee masking inferior quality. Bieker emphasizes the need for consumer education to distinguish bad from good coffee, understanding differences in types and roasts, and making informed choices, aiming to make Italian consumers protagonists in their coffee experiences.

🍪 KoRo's "KoRo x Bakeries" project runs until December 31, featuring local Italian master bakers' 100% plant-based, high-quality creations in major cities. Brescia's Pasticceria Checchi offers Vegan Carrot Cake; Milan's Pasticceria Dosa has Fichissimo cookies; Rome's Radagast presents Donut Fiocco di Neve; and Torino's La Colazione di Sara proposes Ciambellina speziata KoRombella. Special Golden Tickets in limited edition products offer a chance to win a €100 voucher for KoRo's online shop.

✈ A new embarkation tax of €0.50 per passenger for flights to non-EU countries will be imposed at Italian airports: Fiumicino, Malpensa, Bergamo, Napoli, Venezia, Catania, and likely Linate and Bologna by 2025. The tax applies to airports with over 10 million passengers, starting April 1 to coincide with the summer schedule. Expected revenue is over €5 million in the first year and €8 million in the second, funding infrastructure and road works in the affected cities and metropolitan areas.

❄ Employees of Swissport at Leeds airport are set to strike from December 19 to January 4, potentially suspending operations. The strike, involving 50 ramp agents, is due to a dispute over winter period payments, including de-icing duties. Ryanair flights might be the most affected.

🍷 In 2024, Google search data revealed the Porn Star Martini as the top trending cocktail, along with Honey Deuce, Hugo Spritz, Gin Fizz, and others. The vodka-based Porn Star Martini, created in the early 2000s, ranked high in "how to" searches, surpassing topics like the Olympics and the Northern Lights. Vodka features in five of the ten most searched cocktails, indicating its resurgence and popularity in the ready-to-drink market. This year's trends highlight a blend of tradition, innovation, and a desire for taste exploration and socializing.