LIGNANO. The 2021 bathing season in Lignano Sabbiadoro was officially inaugurated on Sunday 13 June, at the Terrazza a mare, in the presence of the mayor Luca Fanotto, the regional councilor for tourism, Sergio Bini, the president of Lignano Sabbiadoro gestioni, Emanuele Rodeano.
Several authorities present in the room that extends over the sea where it is traditional to give the whistle to kick off the summer of the Friulian seaside resort.
A closed-door event to comply with the anti Covid-19 requirements, but organized in such a way as to be usable live on the Facebook page of the Municipality of Lignano and on the Telefriuli television station.
The speech of the mayor of Lignano Sabbiadoro, Luca Fanotto
In his opening speech, Fanotto recalled how “the opening of the tourist season goes beyond the traditional moment of confrontation on the dynamics of tourism, because it comes after a year of pandemic, an apocalypse that has profoundly affected our society and all sectors. of the economy, among which tourism was one of the most affected.
Precisely that tourism – continued the mayor – which until 2019 was experiencing an unstoppable growth and generated 13% of the national GDP.
A devastating blow that, however, has made the national community aware that tourism does not only concern hoteliers and tourist guides, but is a sector that crosses the entire economy and society as a whole ”.
The pandemic, however, according to Fanotto, has increased the desire to travel and experience, a desire that Lignano has been able to intercept because “it is a tourist destination – he stressed – with hardware given by the territory and its services, and with software represented by the positioning on the market, the quality of the offer, the professionalism of the operators.
For a destination to be successful – added the mayor – the joint effort of all is necessary: territorial government bodies, local authorities, tour operators and citizens.
To be competitive, a destination needs coordination, organization and strategy.
The tourist, in fact, wants to be an active and not a passive subject, and Lignano – today we can say it with a certain pride – has faced the pandemic with its head held high and with courage.
The economic operators of our territory – the mayor remarked – last season launched their hearts beyond the obstacle, opening all the structures, thus guaranteeing a positive employment impact with a great sense of responsibility.
They were able to reorganize their companies very quickly, conforming to the new health and hygiene protocols, thus offering a quality and safe product ».
Concluding his speech, Luca Fanotto underlined how the pandemic forces us to redefine our strategies, learning to evaluate usefulness and disutility, risks and opportunities, “but – he concluded – we must have and maintain the courage to bet”.
The intervention of the Tourism Councilor of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Sergio Bini
An intervention marked by optimism came from the regional councilor for tourism, Sergio Bini who, after thanking the municipal administration, PromoTurismo Fvg, Lignano Sabbiadoro management and the trade associations present for their help in difficult moments during the pandemic , he said: «Never as this year has the inauguration of the tourist season been expected and felt.
We are finally recovering our freedom bit by bit after going through a year and a half of darkness.
The numbers of presences and reservations by Italian and foreign tourists that we are seeing go beyond all expectations.
I personally had the opportunity to test how many people there are in Lignano during these weekends and this confirms to me that we left “with a bang”.
As a regional government we are supporting a sector that, perhaps more than others, has been hit by the pandemic crisis.
We did it in the emergency phase – continued Bini – with non-repayable contributions.
We also did it with an important national and international marketing campaign, we will do it again with the settlement at the end of July, making several million euros available for investments.
We are therefore happy to be able to inaugurate – he concluded -, albeit in a prudent way and with contingent presences, a season that is born with excellent prospects ».
The speech by the president of Lignano Sabbiadoro Gestioni, Emanuele Rodeano
“After the 2020 season organized in the best possible way with a summer offer like that of the 60s – said the president of Lignano Sabbiadoro Gestioni, Emanuele Rodeano -, we have arranged ourselves in” variable geometry “mode, ready to increase the offer if the conditions had allowed it.
This year the animation for adults and children is finally back, sports are back with spinning and the gym, cycling and, thanks to the administration, a large calendar of shows for Nights in the arena in Alpe Adria, with all the safety requirements.
However, please allow me – added Rodeano – to mention two key issues for our locality: dredging and renewal of concessionaires.
The maintenance of inland waters, dredging and nourishment are essential activities.
On these issues, we need certainties, be it the extension or the public evidence, it is enough that the bathing sector is promptly put in a position to operate in serenity with a certain time horizon “.
As per tradition, at the end of the meeting the Mayor and the authorities present rewarded municipal employees and operators who over the years have distinguished themselves for their commitment and activities carried out in favor of the common good and the development of Lignano.
In particular, the following were awarded: municipal employees Bruno Bivi, Lucina Ambotta and Sandra Pin, as well as operators Ines Blasizzo of Ristorante Corallo, Giorgio Cattaruzza of Hotel Miramare, Luigi Saccomani of Agenzia Saccomani, Ettore Gover of Tavernetta and Graziella Falleti of Manu ‘Lingerie and Sea.