Catastrophic expectations for Italy tourism sector

Italy's lockdown measures and escalating death toll amid coronavirus outbreak have led to a sudden halt of country's tourism industry.

Most hotels in capital of Rome are closed due to a lack of visitor numbers, unusual for start of high season in one of biggest tourist locations in world.

dam to this industry, in a country famed for its world-class museums, archaeological sites, art cities and natural beauty, is t yet quantifiable.

But experts warn that financial impact on whole industry, that is t only hotels but also supply chain as a whole, will certainly be catastrophic.

March bookings were down 97% in Italian capital, according to Rome's Hotel Association, with remaining 3% explained as hotel rooms occupied by few categories still forced or allowed to work, and people unable to return to ir country of origin.

"When we say 15 million people (tourists) less (per year), when we say approximately 33 million visits (every year) that went down to zero, let's reflect briefly on size of suppliers behind this business, what total expense of each tourist is," said Roberto Necci, association's Vice President.

According to Italy's tourism federation, Assoturismo, sector - which generates 13% of Italian GDP - is w facing total collapse due virus outbreak's impact on travel.

While closure of hotels is first and most evident sign of crisis, thousands of small companies will be severely affected by it, including tourist bus companies, which used to transfer waves of people back and forth from airports to hotels to touristic sites all over country.

Bracci SRB in Rome is a small tourist bus company, which works mostly with US visitors and y say y're alrey paying a huge price for pandemic.

More than 5.6 million Americans visit Italy every year, representing 9% of foreign tourists and second-largest national group behind Germans, according to most recent statistics.

Bracci is a small company with two shareholders and five full-time employees, and nine seasonal ones.

full time drivers were given forced leave for month of March.

What lies ahe, body kws.

best y can expect for time being from new government measures is redundancy funds, but for many this won't cover all ir family expenses.

"We are waiting for confirmation by government on how y will handle this situation," said 45-year- old Seicaru Traian Catalin, a full time Bracci employee who left his home on Tuesday only to sign some urgent documents.

"n one will need to choose between paying one's mortg, or rent or similar, or feeding one's children,"

One of company's manrs, Laura Bracci, said it was alrey facing a loss of 210,000 euros (227,000 US dollars) for first two weeks of March.

uncertainty for Bracci is also in t kwing how quickly tourism industry will recover once pandemic subsides.

In Italy, a jump in number of new deaths and cases over last 24 hours dashed hopes fed by two days of declines.

743 deaths reported Tuesday pushed Italy's toll past 6,800, by far highest of any country.

With Italy on an uphill battle to contain virus, Premier Giuseppe Conte anunced on Tuesday far stiffer fines for violators of national lockdown restrictions.

Earlier in March, Conte approved 25 billion euros (27.9 billion US dollars) in emergency aid to help families, workers and employers confront coronavirus emergency and activate lines of credit for ar 350 billion euros (390.6 billion US dollars).

Conte said measures include more 3 1/2 billion euros (3.9 billion US dollars) to support public health services and civil protection ncy, 10 billion euros (11 billion US dollars) to ensure that one loses work due to virus, including short-term unemployment schemes and measures to help self-employed and season workers.

Under measures, mortgs and tax payments can be frozen, and families in need can receive vouchers for babysitters.

But se measures will take time to be implemented in practice and many people are still confused and uncertain of how to claim.

Conte said that decree alone would t be sufficient to fight emergency and that re would be or measures taken.

Most patients who contract new coronavirus develop only mild symptoms and recover after about two weeks, but virus is highly contagious and can be spre by those with visible symptoms.

For older ults and people with underlying health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.