Earthquake, tourism collapses

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 07:49:36 +0000
Num. 36

But the decision to restart was immediate

The damage sustained by buildings and structures after an earthquake can generally be seen immediately. But experience teaches us that these visible damages are also an indication of others. Starting with the decline, as a result of an inevitable and ruthless domino effect, of entire business sectors, among which we must frequently include the tourism industry. This is what happened in Ferrara after the May 2012 earthquake. According to data provided by the Provincial Administration on the number of tourists visiting the city, all operators in this sector recorded a sharp drop in customers and therefore a reduction in economic activity both for themselves and, more generally, for the city's economy. And we may well wonder what would have happened if the decision to take action had not been immediate. In the case of the "Tourism Fair of the 100 It alian Cities of Art" for example, scheduled for the days immediately following the earthquake, the Province and organizers decided to confirm the event. It took place in the castle rooms, ensuring that operators from all over the world could not only admire our city, but also the citizens who demonstrated their ability to react immediately. Likewise with "Ferrara sotto le Stelle", the "Ferrara Buskers Festival", the "Internazionale Festival" and the "Ferrara Balloons Festival", which were all organized as per normal and produ ced very good results, even though they were carried out in strict compliance with the stringent safety regulations. Two important decisions have also marked the beginning of autumn. The first was to reopen the city theatre, which was severely damaged during the earthquake and, at the same time, "Ferrara Arte" dedicated the Palazzo dei Diamanti autumn exhibition to the artists whose works are housed in the Giovanni Boldini Museum, the Museum of the Nineteenth Century and in the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art. The exhibition has received a great number of visitors. Even private operators, aware of the inevitable, dramatic fall in attendance, continued organizing initiatives, such as "Street Dinner", which was also filmed by the cameras of Discovery Channel. That's not all. Although heavily affected by the earthquake, the world of tourism also participated in acts of solidarity, with many facilities opening their doors to those who did not even have a bed to sleep on. All evidence that the city and province have shown, and continue to demonstrate, that they are capable of coping with a disaster that has devastated a large part of the Ferrara territory.