Sorrento. “The PNRR raises a central theme: we do not have problems with economic resources, we have problems with human resources. We do not have enough technicians and administrators to concretely translate our projects. Very often we find ourselves in difficulty”. This was stated by the mayor of Sorrento, Massimo Coppola, introducing the works of the second edition of the General States of Tourism that was held in the coastal town this afternoon. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè and the vice president of the Campania Region Fulvio Buonavitacola.
“The South today needs institutions, it needs the Government”. Said the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, in her speech at the General States of Tourism, organized by the Municipality of Sorrento.
“Italy can return to being a leader in tourism if it takes care of the South,” she adds, “and since we have the opportunity of the PNRR funds, 80% of which must be spent in the South, we cannot waste it. The money is there.” Everything is linked to planning, the minister emphasizes, recalling that the PNRR procedures “are very complicated. Municipalities, especially small ones, do not have the resources and skills to access the projects, so this is the first effort we must make.” Then there is the “mentality” of the players who must invest. “I arrived in Naples with the Frecciarossa,” Santanchè argues, “and I believe that high-speed is an Italian source of pride. Then I got off at the station and got into the car to come to Sorrento and I felt bad as an Italian, because it is not possible that there is a road in those conditions to get to Sorrento. If we do not start from the infrastructure, where do we want to go?” If we don't start from here, he points out, "we can put in all the effort in the world, but infrastructure and transport are two essential pillars for tourist flows".
For Santanchè "2023 will be the turning point, where we will still recover that gap that we lack and improve it. All the structures are working well, but there is a lot of work to do, because for example there is training that in this sector is lacking, so we need to invest in training, in infrastructure, we need to invest in deseasonalization. Today it is January and in Sorrento there is a wonderful climate, in this area many foreign tourists come from northern Europe, we need to deseasonalize".
The minister regretted the absence of the president of the Campania Region Vincenzo De Luca (in his place was the deputy Fulvio Bonavitacola). “I never get to meet the president of the Region – she began upon her arrival – I would have liked to, but every time something happens. Even in Ischia they gave me he was present and even today. These are important occasions to create a system between the institutions: mayor, minister, government, Region. I understand that he has many things to do, but the Minister of the Republic also has things to do. I appeal – continued Santanchè – to the president of the Region so that we can see each other, because no one should have the presumption of being better and more capable. In life – as in love or in school, you don't win alone. Even less – concluded the minister – do you win alone in politics, hence my appeal to work as a team”.
“I work to make tourism the leading industry in Italy. It is a great challenge, and I behave as if tourism were an industry. In fact, I will soon present the first industrial plan for tourism, because everyone has been talking about tourism in the last 30 years, but there is so much work left to do”. Daniela Santanchè said speaking at the second edition of the General States of Tourism of the Sorrento Peninsula. “It is a great opportunity – the minister underlined – but I say it above all in terms of employment for our young people. Since tourism is services, we cannot be replaced by machines, so we need women and men and that is why I say that we need to invest a lot in training. But I also tell young people that their true hope is in this sector. Once upon a time, if our son had come to our house 30 years ago and said he wanted to be a chef, I don't know if we would have been happy. Today he is no longer called a chef but a cook and they are stars, ambassadors of Made in Italy in the world. We have to do this work, because working in tourism is not only rewarding and beautiful but also gives young people the opportunity to travel the world. What is missing in Italy - he concluded - is training, a higher school of tourism".
Photo service by Alessandro Memoli
