Sardinia pushes on motorhome areas: new rules approved to favor their usage and realization

The Region of Sardinia unanimously approved the unified text amending the regulation of motorhome parking areas, governed by article 21 of regional law number 16 of July 28, 2017. There are four significant changes. The first one increases the permitted duration of parking from 48 hours to 72 hours, which can be further increased to 120 hours for 30 percent of the pitches, introduces new specifications of the minimum equipment and allows the realization of the areas also to the Forestas regional agency, in the territorial areas where they can operate.

The second one concerns the positioning and management of these accommodation facilities. In order to promote itinerant tourism in the open-air, the municipalities can identify public areas to be allocated as municipal areas, preferably locating them in areas of environmental and landscape interest, where there are not already equipped areas. Implementation and management are the responsibility of the municipalities, without prejudice to the possibility of entrusting its management to private entities, to be identified through a specific public procedure.

Among the requirements, the third novelty refers to people with disabilities (there must be 1 accessible pitch every 10), to respect for the naturalness of the places and the lowest possible impact, setting the goal of greater energy saving.

Up to €50,000 in contributions

Finally, article 21 quater provides that the Region may grant specific contributions to the municipalities for the construction, renovation and expansion of municipal areas equipped for temporary parking, up to a maximum of €50,000 per area. Special qualifying equipment allows for priority in granting the grant: automation of accesses, energy-saving lighting, installation of renewable energy sources and charging columns, presence of areas and spaces dedicated to pets, availability for users of a multimedia app. The Region has allocated €1.5 million for 2021 and the same for 2022.

Associations satisfied

Positive comments came from the main sector associations, which had already been involved at the hearing level in the drafting phase of the rule. “AIASC, APC, ACTItalia, Assocamp, Confederazione Italiana Campeggiatori and the Club Camperisti Sardi express their full satisfaction with the unanimous approval by the Sardinia Region of the unified text that integrates the regulation of motorhome parking areas,” states a press release. “The most representative associations of outdoor tourism highlight the commitment and attention shown by the Region towards an ever-growing tourism sector“.

“As AIASC – Italian Association of Motorhome Parking Areas we are pleased that the deputy Sara Canu has supported our proposal to allow parking for a minimum of 72 hours and up to a maximum of 120 consecutive hours for 30% of the pitches,” commented the vice president Gianluca Tomellini. “Thinking that the Sardinia Region is the only one in Italy to date to have adopted it, marks an important turning point in the concept of hospitality for campers at a national level and for AIASC it is an extraordinary result“.

Positive words also from the APC – Caravan and Camper Producers Association, through the general manager Ludovica Sanpaolesi: “APC particularly appreciates the fact that the Sardinian regional councilors have concretely – and unanimously – demonstrated to believe in the development opportunities offered by tourism in caravans and motorhomes. Even APC, which has always been active in the promotion of motorhome parking areas in Italy, strongly believes in Sardinia, having recently contributed to the construction of the Tempio Pausania motorhome parking area“.

Ester Bordino, president of Assocamp, joined in the praise: “Assocamp, on behalf of the Italian dealers and renters, expresses its satisfaction with the approval of the project, which hopefully will drive the other Italian regions to encourage open-air tourism with a view to greater protection of the territory and eco-sustainable tourism“.

Finally, the comment of the president of ACTItalia, Guido Chiari, could not be missing: “ACTItalia has welcomed with great pleasure the approval of the unified text that integrates the regulation of motorhome parking areas. On behalf of the members of our clubs, who are the users of these initiatives, thanks to the Sardinian institutions for the hospitality offered to us, which will allow our camping friends to visit this splendid island with even more enthusiasm“.