Italy Quake Zones Fear Tourism Collapse As Displaced Total Rises
Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published November 03, 2016 | 10:50 PM
ROME,, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Nov, 2016 ) - The number of people living in temporary shelters due to a series of earthquakes in Italy has risen to 28,000, officials said Thursday as fears mounted for the economic future of the worst-hit areas.
Farmers' organisation Coldiretti warned that tourism, a key sector in the rugged mountain areas, is facing collapse as nature and food-loving visitors are put off by the scenes of devastation broadcast around the world.
Coldiretti said tourists would normally spend a total of 220,000 nights a year in the quake zone, providing a financial lifeline for scores of farm bed and breakfasts, hotels and restaurants, as well as a key market for local artisanal food producers.
"The risk is that this will be wiped out completely by the earthquakes," the organisation said, citing a survey of operators which found "tourists fleeing, reservations being cancelled, occupancy rates at virtually zero and disastrous expectations for the Christmas holiday period".
"If we are to avoid the area being permanently abandoned there has to be support for reconstruction and for people to resume their occupations," the organisation said.
"A lot of farms are in danger of being forced to close." The government has vowed to rebuild all the damaged buildings and has announced plans to use converted shipping containers as temporary accommodation while reconstruction is completed.
More than 40,000 people are estimated to have been forced out of their homes as a result of the damage done by the August 24, October 26 and October 30 quakes, and by thousands of powerful aftershocks, the latest of which was a 4.8 magnitude tremor which struck in the early hours of Thursday.
Of the total, 28,000 are being put up at public expense in municipal buildings, hotels and tents, the national civil protection agency said. Around 19,000 of them have opted to stay close to their homes and dozens are still sleeping in their cars. The government has pledged the containers will be in place by Christmas.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Applications Open for 6th Cycle of Start-up Incubation under the National Expans ..
Join vivo's "Light it Up" Social Media Contest in Ramadan to Win vivo V30 5G
Pakistan v New Zealand T20I series: Tickets to go on sale from today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 29 March 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 29 March 2024
Journalists call for global action to end Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
CM for generating opportunities to bring direct int'l investment
Pakistan retains position in FTSE secondary emerging market
High Commissioner of Malaysia hosts Iftar dinner reception
NEPRA announces 2nd quarterly adjustment in power bills with Rs 1.68 cut per uni ..
Hoopo Inc. Collaborates with SAU to Install Solar-Powered RO Plant
04 killed in Spain as Storm Nelson looms
More Stories From World
-
Tokyo shares close higher after Wall Street records
16 minutes ago -
Evan Gershkovich: determined US reporter jailed in Russia
36 minutes ago -
African Union 'warmly congratulates' Faye on Senegal election win
46 minutes ago -
Biden, Obama, Clinton rake in cash at NYC campaign stop
2 hours ago -
Israeli strike kills 36 Syrian soldiers near Aleppo: war monitor
2 hours ago -
Russian veto ends monitoring of UN's N.Korea sanctions
2 hours ago
-
Football: Italian Serie A table
2 hours ago -
Football: Spanish La Liga table
3 hours ago -
World court orders Israel to unblock Gaza food aid, as famine lurks
3 hours ago -
Football: English Premier League table
3 hours ago -
Greek govt defeats censure motion over train tragedy
3 hours ago -
Baltimore bridge, port recovery will be 'very long road'
3 hours ago