Tourism is not bad, impossible for Sardinia in the height of summer. But there is no sold out.
On average, the drop in hotels is 5%, in B&Bs around 20%, foreigners are not lacking (even if August is not their favorite month) it is the Italians who in part have given up - or renounced altogether or reduced vacation days – because family budgets cry.
In short, it is not a record season, «our expectations have been disappointed» , says Carlo Amaduzzi, regional president of Assohotel, «a boom had been announced, we do not see it. There is someone who has empty rooms today, and usually on the island it doesn't happen in this period».
Germans, Swiss, Austrians are booking for September, still with small numbers, and clearly it won't be enough to recover.
Fausto Mura of Federalberghi explains that the current situation «is patchy, there are places that run faster than others, say, in the south Santa Margherita is doing better this summer than in Villasimius and Costa Rei. Overall, the data is not negative, but full houses are not widespread».
Laura Zazzara (Bed and Breakfast Association in Cagliari and Sardinia) explains to Videolina that «non-hotel facilities on the island in August recorded a drop of around 20% in bookings, and this August 15th there won't be a full house. Airline and ferry fares have pushed Italian families to go elsewhere».
Christine Cossu
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