Malcesine Tourism Decline Sparks Debate and Controversy
Tourism decline in Malcesine: it seems that many share this opinion; however, this is based on the rumors heard at the bar, and as everyone knows, it’s easy to complain. There are, however, those like Vittorio Dapretto, a merchant from Malcesine, who puts his ideas and discontent into writing in a letter sent to the town’s municipal newspaper.
Reactions to Dapretto’s letter
The letter leaves no one unscathed: public administration, tourist authorities, and hoteliers. “Although our town has seen a steady decline in visitors over the past four years,” writes Dapretto, “no one protests and everyone remains equally happy. Shops with fully stocked shelves are patiently awaiting passersby. But no one complains.”
The merchant then criticizes the press, which claims that eight million visitors is a truly exceptional figure, but does not analyze or assess whether the business turnover is actually increasing or decreasing, as Dapretto believes is the case at all banks.
Responses and controversies
Undoubtedly, many controversies have arisen from this matter. Ugo Treccani, president of the Associazione albergatori (Hotel Owners Association), says he read the letter with interest but with great disapproval, and he sends a reply to Dapretto.
What appears more ambiguous in Dapretto’s speech, according to Treccani, is that the person complaining holds public office. “If his intention is to provoke public officials,” responds the president of the Associazione Albergatori, “then I have no problem with him doing so, but he should not forget that he has always been part of these public sectors and still is: he is a member of the Istituzione Malcesine Più (tourist agency), appointed directly by the council of the Ama (Associazione Malcesine Albergatori), to lead, as an expert, the best strategies to attract even more tourists to our town.”
Sharing Treccani’s viewpoint is Franco Zanetti, president of the Associazione giovani albergatori, who also sent a reply letter.
Whether Malcesine is truly experiencing a tourism crisis cannot be confirmed at this time, at least according to the president of the Apt, who explains that data regarding tourist numbers is not yet available, so a comparison with the previous year cannot be made at this point.
Katia Toninelli