The judgment n. 157, July 6th, 2017, of the Constitutional Court has declared the illegitimacy of the Law n.31, May 9th,2016, of the Region of Tuscany about the public maritime concessions aimed at enhancing the nautical tourism.
Italy boasts 157 moorings along its coast and it is one of the most renowned destinations for the nautical tourism. Every year, yachts and superyachts get to Italian ports about 7000 times, and stay for an average 2,8 days: such presence of nautical tourists has very positive effects on the local economy and on the development of coastal territories.
Giorgio Casareto, managing director of the Marina in Varazze, commented: “The impact of nautical tourism on the GDP of our territory is 12,5 million euro when the port is full”. The evaluation is based on an average of 4 people onboard each yacht (watercrafts not included) for a stay in the port of 50 days per year, and it counts costs for the mooring, fuel, services, restaurants, shopping, culture.
Lamberto Tacoli, Nautica Italiana’s president, has so commented on the judgment: “The judgment of the Court proves the lacks of the current regulatory framework. As Association which represents the Italian Nautical Industry, we ask that the legislative procedure about the reorganisation of the public maritime concessions is sped up. To define a clear regulatory framework for the public concessions and for operators who want to invest in accommodation facilities for the nautical tourism is in fact strategic for enhancing the nautical tourism in our country.”
On the other hand, Ucina Confindustria Nautica believes that all necessary time to best organise such issue has to be taken: a better framework is more important than a prompt one.
Ucina and Assomarinas are working on explaining to the government and the institutions the characteristics of the touristic ports and of the facilities of the nautical industry, which need a specific regulation, maybe also detached from the one about public concessions. The two associations have been working for weeks to allow both the institutions and professionals of the nautical industry to discuss the matter.
