For the tourist port industry, it is a period of favorable winds. The economic balance is growing for the fourth year in a row (averaging 2 percent), permanent and transit berths are increasing, several landings are nearing completion (Palermo, Piombino, Pietra Ligure, etc.) and many others are on the launch pad. In addition, marina operators celebrated excellent news last November, as the Infrazioni decree excluded port facilities dedicated to boating from the Bolkestein Directive (the one that revolutionizes the procedures for entrusting, modalities and duration of concession contracts of the maritime domain), bringing newfound certainty to the sector. Thus, for dedicated recreational facilities (and mooring points), the previous allocation criteria remain in place. The sector, which now has about 500 landings along the entire peninsula (and islands) with at least 170,000 berths, is now pushing for a cadastral modification of marinas aimed at exemption from Imu, for targeted incentives for the redevelopment of existing facilities and for the simplification of procedures for dredging. They welcome.
The critical issues of marinas
Despite everything we have seen so far, there continue to be some chronic problems in this sector that are a major limitation to the development of boating. We are talking, for example, about berths that are lacking or cost too much and many times discourage potential boat owners from actually becoming boat owners.
- the absence of national coordination on tourist ports, resulting in scattered settlements decided by regions and municipalities (where local interests can be very strong), often in competition with each other
- an often unfortunate siting of new ports, with deleterious effects on the surrounding coastline and the need for constant dredging
- speculative use with increasing space devoted to shopping centers, parking lots and residential construction
- The trend toward gigantism, with many berths reserved for increasingly larger units
- The inability to “network”
- The absence of quality criteria, so that stellar mooring costs are often not matched by equivalent services
Proposals to improve the situation
What could definitely benefit this segment? We have some ideas:
- Create a national steering committee to coordinate the work of regions and local authorities on tourist ports so as to avoid parochial competition or concentration and, conversely, avoid (through funding or relief) stretches of coastline that are too uncovered.
- Reserving a larger share of berths for small to medium-sized units.
- Making “system” by encouraging joint coordination (like Croatia).
- Establish a “quality” classification as is the case for hotels (stars), with an effective match between required rates and services offered.
The themes of upcoming episodes:
- Telematics register
- Marinas and berths
- Marine reserves
- Foreign flag: Italian or foreign?
- Boating license: it’s a fee alarm
- Boating license on app
- European boating license
- Regions: resource for boating
- Vessels abroad
- First Aid Kit
- Social boating
- Boating promotion
- Controls at sea
- Life rafts
