Verona Campsites to Receive New Classification System by Year-End
New parameters and a new classification system by the end of the year for all campsites in Verona. Inspections by officials from the Province’s Tourism Office have begun in recent days; this office has been delegated all administrative functions regarding so-called open-air accommodation facilities, including campsites, tourist villages, and campsite villages, based on a regional regulation issued on December 16, 1999. Previously, the responsibility to regulate prices and establish classifications, from two to four stars, was assigned to the municipalities. The new regulation, however, has transferred these functions to the Province. This is a significant change for the sector, considering that approximately four million tourists pass through these open-air accommodation facilities annually.
Opinions and Comments on the New Law
“More or less the same number of people who reach the 300 hotels of Garda overall,” says Marco Zaninelli, president of Assogarda Camping, which counts around forty members among the approximately 60 campsites in the Verona area. “A law we have been waiting for a long time because it allows the entire tourism sector to be organized in a comprehensive manner,” explains Davide Bendinelli, the provincial Tourism assessor.
In 1997, the region delegated to the Province the regulation and classification of hotel structures, but at Garda, open-air facilities are also of fundamental importance, and a control by a single entity can create greater uniformity in the sector. Additionally, with a uniform system, it will be possible to improve the quality of services offered, which is essential to attract tourists to our province.”
Zaninelli also shares this opinion. “It’s a proactive law that we strongly wanted. The previous one was outdated and no longer suited customer demands. Previously, classification was difficult to perform because it was based on numerical calculations of general coefficients. Now, to determine a camping’s level, fixed parameters are used, such as the types of services provided, overnight security, value safekeeping, first aid, the type and quality of sanitary installations, and the presence of sports and leisure facilities. In other words, to qualify for four stars or to bear the additional designation ‘Vacation Center,’ a service with increasingly high standards must be provided.”
Deadlines and Management of Classifications
The new classification is valid for five years. Existing campsites have five years to comply with the new rules, which may include acquiring missing facilities or renovating those that do not meet new criteria. After this period, the Province will itself proceed with the new classification ex officio. In Verona, there are about sixty campsites. One in San Zeno di Montagna, one in Boscochiesanuova, two in Velo Veronese, and two within Verona city. However, Lake Garda dominates the scene, with 56 campsites across Peschiera, Lazise, Bardolino, Brenzone, Torri del Benaco, Malcesine, and Castelnuovo, including those managed by companies with over 5,000 guest stays.
The larger facilities are mostly concentrated in the lower lake area; further north, the rugged cliffs limit the size of campsites. “They still have their charm, immersed as they are among olive groves,” emphasizes Zaninelli. “Indeed, greenery is what our clients most often request. People who live in the city during the year and want to connect with nature during their vacation. This is almost eco-tourism, considering we occupy about 4 million square meters covered by trees.”
Changes in Client Profile
The profile of the client has also changed. The era of camping as an alternative, non-conformist or impoverished vacation mostly for the youth has ended. “Among the regular guests,” concludes the president of Assogarda Camping, “there are entrepreneurs, industrialists, professionals. The ages are also very diverse, ranging from young people to families with children and elderly individuals. What unites everyone is the desire to live freely and outdoors for at least fifteen days a year.”
