The Italian Council of Ministers has approved the draft Presidential Decree aimed at simplifying authorisation procedures in the open-air tourism sector, marking a significant step forward for the industry. The measure, concerning “Works excluded from landscape authorisation or subject to simplified authorisation procedures”, will enable open-air tourism businesses to operate with greater flexibility, fostering innovation, sustainability and accessibility.
The provision introduces two important operational changes that will have a tangible impact on the management of open-air accommodation facilities. On the one hand, it removes the obligation to apply for a new landscape authorisation for the placement of caravans, holiday mobile homes and motorhomes within areas already authorised from a landscape perspective; on the other, it establishes a simplified procedure to obtain approval for the construction of network infrastructure or for changes to the number and layout of equipped pitches, making adaptation and development works quicker and less burdensome for operators.
“We welcome the adoption of an essential measure for the open-air tourism sector, long requested and awaited,” said Alberto Granzotto, President of FAITA Federcamping. “It changes the very paradigm of our industry, allowing it to move towards an evolved offering that truly responds to market demand while fully and concretely respecting regulations and landscape sustainability, and enhancing the needs for comfort and freedom that characterise our clientele. For this reason, I would like to thank Minister Santanchè, Minister Giuli and their teams for their attention to a sector that accounts for nearly 74 million overnight stays, generates over €8 billion in turnover and employs 100,000 people. The effects of this simplification will have positive repercussions on deseasonalisation policies, enabling businesses to compete through quality and innovation on international markets as well. Open-air tourism aims to become increasingly an integral and fundamental part of our country’s tourism and hospitality value chain”.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the measure forms part of a broader framework of support for the sector, following the allocation of €63 million for open-air tourism and walking routes. Developed in synergy with the Ministry of Culture, the initiative seeks to fully unlock the sector’s potential, with particular attention to development opportunities in southern Italy.
Next steps and timeline
The draft decree will now be submitted to the Court of Auditors, which verifies financial coverage and formal legality, and will subsequently be signed by the President of the Republic. Once these steps are completed, the decree will be published in the Official Gazette, from which point the new rules will formally enter into force.
Based on average timelines for Presidential Decrees, the period between approval by the Council of Ministers and publication in the Official Gazette is estimated at between two and four months. FAITA Federcamping has announced that it will provide businesses with operational guidelines and practical updates to facilitate the implementation of the simplifications, ensuring swift adaptation of facilities and effective planning of new investments.
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