Announced at the end of August, the €1.4 billion in aid for the inbound sector, from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, will provide much-needed support to Italy’s inbound players.
Daniela Santanché: pre-pandemic figures to be exceeded by 2023
“This is a necessary lever for tourism, we have to raise the bar,” said tourism minister Daniela Santanché at a press conference in Rome. “Demand is growing and the target group is more and more demanding. We must boost the quality of our services in order to compete. Moreover, the new leverage comes at a favourable time for the travel industry: 2023 will be the year when the pre-pandemic figures will be exceeded.”
Focus on investments from €500,000 to €10 million
The measure is aimed at hotels, agritourisms, beach and spa establishments, open-air accommodation facilities, marinas, and enterprises in the trade fair and conference sector. Medium to large investments between €500,000 and €10 million that focus on sustainability and digitization as well as on energy and earthquake-proof upgrading will quality. As will works to remove architectural barriers and for extraordinary maintenance, the construction of thermal swimming pools, and the purchase or renovation of furnishings.
Direct contributions and subsidized loans
Two forms of facilitation are envisaged: a direct contribution to expenditure granted by the Ministry of Tourism, and a subsidised loan, granted by the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. Both will be granted on the basis of the project assessment by Invitalia. The subsidized loan must be combined with a market-rate bank loan of the same amount and duration, provided by a bank that is a member of the special agreement between the Ministry of Tourism, the Italian Banking Association and Cdp.
