Roccaraso under lockdown: anti-invasion ordinances are triggered, but 50 buses have already been booked

Roccaraso – The announced “invasion” of Roccaraso, feared for next weekend, has pushed the mayors of Alto Sangro to take cover.

Restrictive ordinances have been signed to limit the influx of tourists, especially those coming from Napoli, following numerous appeals on social media to flock to the ski resort.

Reservations required for tourist buses

From this weekend until March 2nd, reservations will be mandatory for bus tourists who intend to access the area. The decision was taken by the mayors of Roccaraso, Castel di Sangro, Pescocostanzo, Rivisondoli and Rocca Pia, fearing a repeat of the uncontrolled influx of the past few weeks.

Alternate license plates and limited number

The new measures include a maximum of 100 tourist buses per day, with an alternate license plate system to further regulate traffic. For Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February, vehicles with even license plates are expected to circulate.

Reinforced controls and summit at the Police Headquarters

At the moment, there are already over 50 tourist buses that have made the mandatory reservation through the institutional website of the Municipality of Roccaraso (https://www.comune.Roccaraso.aq.it/). The authorities have announced tight controls to ensure compliance with ordinances and road traffic regulations. A technical summit at the Police Headquarters will define the security plan, which will involve numerous law enforcement agencies.

Residents' concern

The “two days of passion” that awaits Roccaraso is of great concern to residents. The older ones remember well the inconvenience and damage caused last weekend by thousands of young people who flocked to the slopes and nightclubs. “We are worried, what happened last week must never happen again,” commented a resident. “We are in favor of the controls, but we hope they are not just for show.”

Reinforcements arrive to stem the crowds of tourists

Reinforcements are arriving for the possible second invasion in Roccaraso but there are those who are ready to take a step back towards Alto Sangro, after the assault of twenty thousand tourists last Sunday. From Campania, where 250 buses had moved last weekend, someone is ready to give up the weekend on the snow.

“We are waiting for the decisions of the Municipality of Roccaraso on what to do – says the owner of a travel agency in Salerno -, but we are inclined to cancel the departures scheduled for next Sunday, refunding those who have paid for the tickets: the truth is that there are no parking areas equipped for buses, they can handle a maximum of 50 buses, saying that 100 can enter does not solve the problem”.

But the Neapolitan tiktokers, architects of last weekend's invasion, do not give up on social media and as a challenge they advertise the day in the snow for 30 euros all inclusive. Reservations, according to Avs deputy Francesco Borrelli, have already exceeded twenty thousand. It is precisely the low-cost offer that has encouraged the massive influx, with departures organized from at least 12 cities in Campania.

“If 200 arrive, what will they do for the unauthorized ones? Do they block them and send them back?”, asks the tour operator. Mattia Giansante, president of the Sci Club Aterno Pescara, also intervenes in the debate on the management of the emergency, defending the activities organized in full compliance with the regulations.

“Our buses have all the necessary authorizations to reach and stop at the facilities and none of our members have experienced the inconveniences reported by the media,” says Giansante. In the meantime, the police are preparing the control plan, with the filtering of buses that will be carried out on state road 17.

 We are thinking of implementing the Naples model, that is, the one used during the retreat of the Italian team

The president of the Province of L'Aquila, Angelo Caruso, has asked for the adoption of a "Naples model", referring to the control system that is implemented in the summer during the Neapolitans' retreat. "Reinforcements will arrive, it was a specific request", announced Caruso. "My appeal is to come, even in large numbers, but to be respectful of the places".

Meanwhile, the town of Roccaraso waits. “It’s nothing new, it’s a phenomenon that has always existed, but never on this scale,” said Giovanni Dellarmi, a hotelier from Roccaraso and spokesperson for the category. “The situation has gotten out of control and all services have gone haywire. We’re used to the presence of people from Campania in our area, but 250 buses are too many.”

The hotel facilities are already fully booked

Despite the chaos, the hotels are fully booked. Last Sunday's invasion will also have a judicial aftermath. The owner of a business has filed a complaint with the police for being attacked by a tourist. "I was managing the line for services, when a woman for no reason wanted to go in front of everyone," said the shopkeeper. "I simply told her to respect the line and she physically and verbally attacked me."

However, TikTokers continue to post videos to invite their followers to sign up for the one-day holiday package on the Abruzzo ski slopes – Roccaraso, and not only – at an average cost of thirty euros per person. Departure from Naples is scheduled for around 6.30:XNUMX, return in the afternoon.

Also the deputy Borrelli will be in Roccaraso on Sunday to verify what is happening

Keeping watch over this “second assault” is the deputy of the Green Left Alliance, who will be in Roccaraso himself on Sunday and who today announced that there are still numerous Neapolitan tik-tokers (whose appeals he publishes on his profile): “It is clear that these individuals who advertise these trips – says the parliamentarian – are challenging the institutions by announcing a wild invasion without rules.

A challenge that we must be prepared for and reject. Since it is mostly made up of improvised organizers, it is clear, as happened last weekend, that it will be total chaos and a second act cannot be allowed. On Sunday I will be personally present in Roccaraso to verify that there are the necessary controls against the announced new invasion and to stop any devastation and verify that all measures have been adopted to guarantee safety and legality”.