Lake Garda Tourism Hit by Landslide, Easter Visits Expect to Drop 40%

If the lower Lake Garda is smiling, the upper Benaco is frowning at the first tangible test of the tourist season. The landslide on the 45 bis road is significantly impacting the tourism sector (as well as daily life), and alternative transport options both by road and water are unable to compensate for those of the Gardesana.

“For Easter, we will have 40 percent fewer visitors due to the landslide,” says Chicco Risatti, president of the Riviera dei Limoni — “and certainly the casual tourists, those passing through, will be missing this year. It will be a truly subdued Easter for the entire hospitality sector, from hotels and bars to pizzerias.”

Effects of the blockade and operators’ concerns

The blockade of the 45 bis also somewhat penalizes operators on the middle Brescia shore, albeit to a lesser extent, and here too there are concerns. “For us, the problem isn’t as severe as in Limone, Tremosine, or Tignale,” states Sergio Bassetti, president of the Consorzio alberghi di Salò e Gardone — “but we very much fear a 30-40 percent decline in transit tourism coming from the north. Fortunately, bookings are more or less the same as in previous years.”

Hopes for summer and situation in the middle lake

There is hope for recovery in the summer on the upper lake; in the middle lake area, aside from concerns about connections, weather whims remain a worry. However, a full house is anticipated nonetheless.

Those who can smile (and hope to do so in the sun) are the operators of lower Garda, where the early fully booked Easter was already evident last week, during the Vinitaly event. Masses of Austrian and German visitors arrived in search of the first sunshine, and a positive note is the large number of Italians.

Hotels are full, and shutters are now open for the over 17,000 second homes registered in the area, suggesting a very crowded Easter weekend and the now chronic traffic paralysis.