Naples, De Negri: the seafront is a business card for tourists, no to chaos and 'festivals'

Naples. "After ten disastrous years in Naples due to the previous municipal administration, this could be the right time. I had the pleasure of talking with Mayor Gaetano Manfredi, I trust in Councilor Teresa Armato with whom I had positive meetings, and this is my hope.

What is closest to my heart - I am a tour operator, I do organized tourism, I have been in Astoi since the association was born - is the ability to welcome tourists because this is what I have been doing for 47 years. I have it in for example with the port, when you disembark from the islands it is chaos: illegal taxi drivers, lack of controls even for those in order who are the masters.

My biggest concern is that tourism will disappear from this city if we treat these guests badly. We need to give them some time to work, but it seems like we are on the right track.

In Naples we have given a lot because every year for 25 years we have brought with Bmt 100-120 foreign operators selected by Enit and by us, thanks also to the active collaboration of the Department of Tourism of the Campania Region. It is not easy for the municipal administration, but Naples is a strong brand”. So at Say Little Angel De Negri, owner of Progecta and AironTour.

“The Lungomare – he remarks – must be a promenade where there must be control and respect, instead anything happens. The squares, which are numerous, are the ideal place to hold the events that are held on the Lungomare today. This creates interest in other historic places of the city as well.

The Lungomare, where the hotels are, cannot be a place of chaos, it must be a pleasant, equipped place. It is a piece of the hospitality of the hotels. Not even the wild parking of a few years ago was conceivable. With all the events that are held, then, it has become a noisy place that disturbs tourists. I hope that this administration succeeds in this and it seems that there are already some good hypotheses on the table”.

“The Mostra d'Oltremare is not the place to hold these events – attacks De Negri – because it must be respected as a trade fair center. The old municipal administration tried in every way to turn it into a public park where you can enter with one euro. It is a disgrace. The trade fair center must be respected, it is a place of work, and here too I hope that the Municipality intervenes with professionals in the sector.

The Mostra d'Oltremare has needed renovation for years and it is unthinkable to leave access to the public even during the fairs' set-ups with the risk of accidents. I hope that there is dialogue between the owners - Municipality, Region and Chamber of Commerce. The fairgrounds could be the city's resource, these structures in other cities do 60-70 initiatives, we as Progecta do 5, then there are other organizers who do one each for a total of another 3-4.

And then you get to take 'festivals' with things displayed on the ground in pavilions without stands. In this way you disqualify the hub and the city. Because of all this, colleagues from the north who came here opted for the Maritime Station, even for the Tarì. The issue needs to be addressed quickly. The mayor – De Negri concludes – he told me that they will calmly look into the matter”.