Mazzi explained that the government intends to guide all travel agencies and major cruise lines toward this goal, emphasizing that the recognition is not only cultural but also an economic driver. With approximately 80 million Italians worldwide—of whom only 8% (six million) have already returned to Italy—this opens up a potential pool of 74 million people who could be motivated to visit their roots thanks to a strongly identifying initiative like the promotion of Neapolitan song.
Involvement of local institutions and international partners
The minister declared that he had already spoken with the mayor of NaplesGaetano Manfredi, and the President of the Campania Region, Vincenzo Fico, met in Cagliari. Both pledged their willingness to collaborate. Furthermore, Mazzi expressed his willingness to support the participation of international artists, in order to make the event more attractive globally.
Opportunities related to the America's Cup and Louis Vuitton Cup regattas
The stages of the America's Cup and the Louis Vuitton Cup, scheduled for Naples, are seen by the minister as opportunities to promote the project. Integrating these high-profile sporting events with the tourism campaign could increase the city's visibility and encourage the flow of foreign visitors.
To move from a declaration of intent to concrete implementation, Mazzi announced the launch of a technical committee that will coordinate the actions of the government, local authorities, cruise lines, and cultural stakeholders. The committee will define the timelines, resources, and promotional measures needed to reach the goal of one million Italian tourists by 2028.
It seems like an interesting idea, but there are too many points to clarify, and the numbers seem overly optimistic. Local institutions and government agencies should coordinate the projects, but funding is often lacking. I hope the technical table works and that prospective investors are attracted without vague promises and excessive bureaucracy.