Sicily drought crisis forces hoteliers to turn away tourists

Sicily has been hit by an extreme drought, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. The harsh conditions are impacting tourists, as hotel and lodging owners are refusing to accommodate them. The situation is challenging in one town.

The state of emergency due to drought was declared in February and is expected to last until the end of the year. Local authorities at that time appealed to residents to reduce water consumption.

The situation worsened with the arrival of the warmer months and the peak vacation season. According to TVN24, huge problems have emerged in Agrigento on the southern coast of Sicily.

Hotel and tourist facility owners in this town are refusing to accommodate tourists, all because there is too little water in the town.

Nicola Farruggio, president of the Sicilian Federation of Hotels, indicated that facilities are required to have certain water reserves, and this often involves purchasing it amid the drought. Owners of smaller lodging places usually cannot afford this and, consequently, cannot provide an adequate water supply to guests.

Currently, some must reduce their water usage by 45%, while others do not have access to water during nighttime hours.

The situation is quickly impacting the entire tourist accommodation sector, which risks serious economic consequences, given that tourism is a sector almost everyone in this part of Sicily relies on, said Giovanni Lopez, owner of the Le Cinque Novelle B&B in the centre of Agrigento, quoted by CNN.

Salvo Cocina, head of civil protection in Sicily, informed that the current water level in reservoirs is at 25% of the total level and is continuously dropping. The Ilpost.it portal reports that according to forecasts, the situation is expected to worsen by the end of July 2024.

As a result, Sicilian authorities have issued a unique appeal. According to the portal, a Navy tanker will deliver water to Agrigento province.