A very interesting live meeting took place yesterday, April 21, 2020, between the mayor of Cavallino-Treporti Roberta Nesto, Paolo Bertolini president of the Cavallino-Treporti Tourist Park and Francesco Berton, president of local Assocamping, which refers to Northeast Faita division. As moderator, Miki Barone, a well known figure in this territory.
The meeting considered many topics, exactly two months after the day Covid-19 opened one of the most difficult periods ever faced in recent years on a global level. The event, however has relighted hope for the operators and workers of the sector, since the message was strong and clear: the municipality of Cavallino-Treporti will open for the summer and will be ready to face the situation at its best, thanks to a new organization which will consider all the recommendations in order to prevent the infection: first of all social distancing in addition to masks and gloves.
Reopening is scheduled for late May-early June
Mayor Nesto has been very reassuring: by the end of May or mid-June, the facilities of the famous seaside resort will reopen and they will be ready to welcome tourists, thanks to the best management of any problem related. Big spaces, large beaches, the nature of the territory allow to to foresee an organization totally respectful to all the current laws related to social distancing and safety. Now the biggest effort is focusing the protocols to apply both at a municipal level and at the particular context of each structure. This is why collaboration is very close and greatly satisfactory on several levels, starting from local to the national one. Undoubtedly the right way will be found.
The drive to the optimistic view is the type of tourism that mainly distinguishes Cavallino-Treporti: open air tourism, greatly operated by campsites and villages able to guarantee “anti-covid” precautions, as Bertolini explains, in some provocative way. In this historical period, indeed, this is the kind of perfect vacation, able to guarantee, above all, the maintaining of social distance, a rediscovery of the nature and a new contact with it, a more personal and autonomous management of spaces, thinking for instance to recreational vehicles, privately owned, or to mobile homes, intended to an exclusive use. In addition, this kind of accommodation has already proven itself in the past, as the best management of health emergencies in collaboration with local authorities. If a case of contagion were to occur, in fact, all the procedures that now take place daily would be implemented, reporting the matter to the health authority who will isolate the patient and his family and will take precautions to protect the rest of the tourists.
Berton is also confident with this gradual reopening, called a “season with more seasons”, probably with tourists coming from the nearby Triveneto, from northern Italy and then, if the borders will reopen, also from abroad.
We all must learn to live together with the virus, but we must keep on living. The strategy proposed by Nesto seems effective and realistic: reduced numbers to guarantee social distancing, the use of masks and gloves in public spaces, such as supermarkets, guests distancing on the beachesrestaurants and bars, recommendations on general and personal care. If everyone will contribute, life can start again.
Everything still needs to be studied in detail, especially if collaboration between parties and institutions is exemplary. However, there are still several issues to be solved and many answers must be given: in detail, what will happen to seasonal workers and show business workers, and about the chance of starting as soon as possible. Assocamping is very careful about this: it is primary to set clear standards before the reopening.
Territorial promotion passes through reputation
In terms of tourism promotion, what has been done until the end of February, internationally, has certainly not been lost, but now it is necessary to rethink everything. Also with a view to reopening, indeed, it is important to think about communicating to proximity tourism, which, until last year, wasn’t considered as primary. The target is communicate to Italians that outdoor holidays, as the one can be experienced in Cavallino-Treporti, is perfect for this moment and the offer is rich and huge. Bertolini launches the very inspiring idea of ”Slow Holiday”: a quieter summer in contact with nature for families. The outdoor holiday perfectly meets these needs. In addition, Berton points out how much the campsites have changed in recent years: today, more than ever, they offer an “hôtellerie en plein air”. It is therefore necessary, first of all, to focus on REPUTATION.
To do this they certainly wait for help from ENIT, which has been solicited, of the Veneto Region and of associations like Venice Sands. Cavallino-Treporti, that never stops, has already started to act with a promotion activity and claim of great resonance at national level: With our open arms.
This is the commitment of local facilities: to offer a week-long vacation to healthcare workers involved in the Covid emergency and their families. An opportunity to thank all the ones who have dedicated themselves in saving lives during this emergency. An important mark, in order to make people known that Cavallino-Treporti is there, together with all its camping villages that have participated to the call. More info at www.abracciaaperte.eu.
This virtual meeting was a real cure-all for our sector, where positivity and concreteness is now needed. There are still many problems to be faced but, with strength and will, everything can be done. And we can’t wait to be on Cavallino’s beaches to enjoy the summer, with or without a mask.
With the guidelines issued by the Government, in Spain the campsites can now reopen