With the establishment of the fund dedicated to open-air tourism (included in the Air Quality decree-law, converted into law at the end of October), Italian industry operators are now eagerly awaiting more details about its implementation. Shortly, the Ministry of Tourism is expected to publish the relevant call for proposals, and Assocamping Confesercenti President Monica Saielli hopes that projects for “car-free” campsites and tourist villages will be rewarded.
The fund has an allocation of €32,870,000 for the year 2023. These resources are intended for “financing investments proposed by Italian municipalities aimed at creating and redeveloping equipped areas for temporary tourist stops and enhancing open-air tourism.” The funding will be governed by the specific call for proposals that the Ministry is set to publish, capturing the attention and anticipation of industry operators.
Monica Saielli: introducing tax incentives for green tourism businesses
Regarding the financing of municipal projects for the creation and redevelopment of equipped areas for temporary tourist stops, president Saielli emphasizes the need to “precisely define the ways in which equipped areas, where it is possible to stop for a maximum of 24 or 72 hours depending on the region in which they are located, can contribute to improving air quality.” Certainly, these areas should be established outside urban centers to decongest traffic, encouraging the use of bicycles or electrically rechargeable vehicles for travel.
Moving in this direction would not only enhance open-air tourism but also expedite the ecological transition of businesses in the tourism sector. However, according to Assocamping’s president, supporting these businesses requires introducing fiscal incentives for campsites and tourist villages that aim to qualify as “car-free”, incorporating restrictions on the circulation of motor vehicles and encouraging guests to use greener and more sustainable transportation solutions.
Saielli suggests reflecting on the possibility of introducing specific measures, such as tax breaks on waste disposal taxes (TARI), a reduction in the tourist tax rate, or support measures for open-air businesses promoting energy communities. Additionally, fiscal incentives could be provided for outdoor facilities that encourage cycling tourismby including an “eco-bike” rate in their offerings reserved for bicycle travelers, or for activities that enhance tree heritage by planting new native species every year, promoting autochthonous flora.
This series of incentives, therefore, would reward the most virtuous facilities, making them driving forces in the ecological transition of the open-air sector.
