Italy’s long-planned Strait of Messina Bridge, set to connect Calabria with Sicily, will be a costly crossing but will have big tourism potential.
The call toll will be expensive
The final approval for the long-awaited Strait of Messina Bridge – connecting the toe of Italy and the Calabria region with Sicily, Italy’s largest island, - came from the Italian CIPESS planning body in early August. Pre-construction work on sites is expected to kick off this autumn, and the completion date, at this early stage, has been set for 2032 or 2033. The Strait of Messina Bridge is already making waves in the travel industry, as the consumer group Codacons has estimated that the toll for cars would be around €10 per crossing, making it one of the most expensive per-kilometre tolls in the world.
The bridge will dramatically improve accessibility
Spanning just 3.66 kilometres, the crossing would cost about €2.73 per kilometre. By comparison Italian motorway tolls average €0.075 per kilometre, while even the 50.45 kilometre Eurotunnel crossing between France and the UK comes in at about €1.42 per kilometre. While the headline-grabbing price raises eyebrows, for the travel trade the bigger story is opportunity. The Strait of Messina bridge promises to dramatically improve accessibility between mainland Italy and Sicily, giving a major boost to fly-drive itineraries, escorted tours, and cruise extensions. Faster connections could also open up new product possibilities such as Calabria-Sicily twin-centre packages, and enhanced logistics for group tours and events.
Opening up opportunities for Calabria
But for operators, pricing strategies will be key with self-drive holidays and coach operators having to factor the toll into packages. But there is no doubt that the time savings and the convenience of driving across a bridge could outweigh the cost, particularly for high-end and experiential travel. With Sicily’s rich cultural heritage, food and wine tourism, and Calabria’s emerging profile (which is too often underrated) the Strait of Messina Bridge could well unlock new itineraries that will make an impact on international markets.
