Sad news for the Sicilian tourism industry. This year, tourism is down 25% compared to the same months of last year. The minor islands are suffering the most from this slowdown.
What’s wrong with the Sicilian tourism industry? I have 10 reasons and you can add more (if you like it).
1- Prices are too high. The value (quality/price) of a vacation in Sicily is not comparable to the one of another tourist destination in the Mediterranean Sea. Why a tourist should spend more for less?
2- The euro is too strong. There is little that can be done about it, but Greece and Spain have the euro and they are not down 25% in tourist arrivals.
3- The Italian economy is not growing. So, Italians stay at home and do not travel.
4- Infrastructures (roads, hotels) are old and/or completely absent in some areas.
5- There is no fresh water in some areas (i.e. Agrigento).
6- Service is not stellar (to put it mildly). Tourists come one season and run away the following one.
7- Sicily’s weather has become too hot in the last few summers and arsonists do not help to cool it down… Is it cooler in Spain or Greece? I doubt it.
8- The 2007 marketing plan of the Sicilian Region was not strategically executed. It is not uncommon that lots of resources are not wisely spent.
9- Sicily still lacks a serious tourism development plan.
10- Sicily is left to improvisation and does not rely on a serious marketing strategy.
I strongly hope to be wrong. I was in Sicily only for one week this summer and people who live there might have a better idea…
