Italian officials are throwing around a statement this week....talking of the tourism losses, and the number openly discussed is 100-billion Euro (120-billion dollars). Round-number and no real science or fact? This is part of the problem over this discussion.
Lets be honest here....around three decades ago, as tourism started to expand....with more and more Asians showing up, the expansion of the luxury hotels took place.
In the midst of the tourist season, luxury rooms were bundled up and you'd easily be paying 250 Euro as a minimum (breakfast included).
The gift shops and ultra-fashion boutiques were a magnet as well.
Eating at a fine Rome restaurant? The truth is that you could eat a 12-Euro dinner and be happy, or pay 100-Euro and be happy.
So I don't have a problem with the 100-billion Euro 'loss'. The Italians can probably manage one single season like this. Another one in 2021? It would probably cripple the hotel and tourism industry. That's the discussion that ought to be carried out now.....can they reopen the tourism 'window' and return to normal?
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