Italy on the brink of coastal collapse? A number of beaches are apparently threatened with closure

After the tough Corona years, vacationers in Italy are now threatened with the next low blow: A number of beaches could have to close.

Rome – After the exhausting Corona seasons, Italy’s tourism industry is happy this year that many Covid rules are no longer applicable. But the next big problem is already threatening holidaymakers and entrepreneurs in Italy: many beaches are apparently threatened with closure.

Because: After the Corona break in tourism, the lifeguards are apparently missing. Almost 4,000 of them are currently missing, reports the ORF, citing the Association of Bathing Establishments in Italy. Coasts across the country are affected by the lack of staff – from Sicily to Liguria.

Italy threatens the beach collapse: lifeguards apparently switched
The problem: Italy requires a lifeguard for every 100 meters of beach. If this is missing, the beaches may not be opened.

But why are the lifeguards missing? The problem is also known in Germany, for example in the catering trade: During the Corona years, many workers switched to other industries in order to have an income even during the lockdown. That’s how it should be with the lifeguards in Italy. In addition, the courses for the award of the lifeguard license have also been stopped, according to the ORF. So there are no offspring.

Lifeguard alarm in Italy – hotel pools are also threatened with closure

“Because of the pandemic, hospitality and tourism have not been able to guarantee the modicum of stability that used to exist and workers have been looking for something else. They took jobs as couriers, construction workers, warehouse workers and drivers,” the ORF quoted Paolo Manca, president of the Federalberghi hoteliers’ association in Sardinia.

But not only the sea beaches are threatened with problems. According to the report, hotels are also affected. According to the report, some of them are not allowed to open their pools.

And there is also a lack of staff in the rest of the gastronomy and tourism sectors. According to the report, around 390,000 jobs are to be filled. But in 40 percent of the cases, companies are said to have problems finding staff. In some companies, a third of the necessary staff is missing.

Beaches and pools could remain closed – just now, when the tourism industry urgently wants to make up for lost income and Italy is being overtaken by a heat wave.