“The signs for spa tourism over the Easter weekend are positive, but the situation remains difficult”. Daniele Barbetti, national vice president of Federalberghi Terme (and regional president of Federalberghi) is a profound connoisseur of the thermal activities of the province of Siena, lived starting from the privileged observatory of Chianciano Terme: he knows that the moment is complex. “Of course, thinking that in the last two Easter holidays the spas were closed, we can say that there has been an improvement – he says – but we are far from the full house that was recorded in these days until the pandemic ”.
How will the Easter weekend in the province of Siena be for the spa sector?
“We will have an occupation exceeding 70%”.
Important result?
“Let’s say good. Because before the pandemic there were no vacancies and because after short holidays a sharp decline is expected, resulting from the climate of great uncertainty that we still live in. We depend independently on local tourism, until the foreign tourism starts again, the difficulties will continue ”.

What are the main problems of a spa facility today?
“The management costs, common to each hotel, become even more important for those who manage the spas. We are talking about an increase in the electricity bill by 400% and the gas bill by 500%, imagine what it means to feed a wellness system with current costs. Then we pay, after years of closures, for the desire of users to be outdoors, despite the fact that spas and hotels are among the safest places. There are also other aspects to be explored ”.
Which?
“The spas are paying for a process that has been going on for years, namely the failure to promote this kind of holiday. And the events sector, although recovering, is not yet as driving as it was in the past, we do not have a great added value. We must therefore also improve the quality of the events that we manage to intercept ”.
What can you do?
“The shopping list is useless, better think about the economic components. At a time when the market is so tight, it is necessary to help businesses bear fixed costs. On the one hand related to the property, such as Imu and any rental fees. As far as employees are concerned, it is essential to renew the layoffs because otherwise we risk losing many jobs. Finally, the issue of energy costs: the government for the April-June quarter has provided a tax credit of 12% for electricity and 20% for gas, but it is clear that for the increases mentioned there is insufficient aid. We would need to go up to at least 40% “.

What will happen after Easter?
“That we will return to employment well below 50%”.
What are the hopes?
“We have a good calendar until April 25th. The will is for the months of May and June if we do not have a resumption of international tourism. Unfortunately, booking trends have shrunk to a very tight booking window, you book last minute or even last second. What I can also recommend to the municipalities, as a strategy to help businesses, is to reduce the costs of the tourist tax. In some municipalities, such as Siena, it is absolutely relevant in spending budgets. Let us not forget that the increase also affects families, not just businesses. At Easter 40% of Italians will leave, the others would like to do it but they don’t have the money: in a situation like the current one, even a few euros can make the difference in choosing a destination or another and for this reason reduce the tax burden and indirectly imposed is fundamental “.