Komisyon Konsèy Touris Gouvènman Italyen an akeyi nouvo Prezidan

The Italian Government Tourist Board – ENIT (Agenzia nazionale del turismo), has a new president, that will be in office for the next three years. After the obligatory passage by the parliamentary commissions, the last Council of Ministers (CDM) approved the appointment of Giorgio Palmucci as President of ENIT, on the proposal of the minister of agricultural food, forestry and tourism policies, Gian Marco Centinaio.

This concludes the formal process that seen the former Club Med manager replace Evelina Christillin. At the end of December, during the hearing at the Senate Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Commerce and, Tourism, Palmucci had already revealed what the key points of his mandate would be.

“In the past, I was very critical with the management of the ENIT, ever considered an unwieldy bureaucratic organization. My will is to make sure that it becomes an instrument, that brings results, and that carries on a shared strategy with the Regions, without overlapping. It is enough, then, with the strategic plans drawn up by the ministry without agreements with what should be the “operative arm” of tourism in Italy, because the goal is to make the new ENIT a flagship for the country since the tourism is the sector that can help GDP growth.”

Not yet known, however, who will be the other two directors that will complete the Agency’s board of directors. The appointments – which had to be announced before the end of 2018 – still seem to be held back, even if the Region’s choice had fallen on Giovanni Lolli as their candidate. Furthermore, one of the two members must be female.

“This is good news for the whole sector – Confindustria Alberghi comments in a joint note of the board of directors – The choice of Giorgio Palmucci, a technician, an operator with a long experience of success behind him, is a very strong signal for the Italian hotel industry and tourism in general. As operators, we know that the tourism market is moving with great speed. ENIT’s work, together with the Regions, will have to be to seize the great opportunities that at this moment the global development of tourist flows is making available to our companies and our country.”