Puglia Governor Decaro Defends Beach Picnics Against Tourism Operators' Objections
Translated from Italian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- The president of the Puglia region, Antonio Decaro, criticized tourism operators who object to people bringing their own food and drinks to private beaches.
- Decaro argued that the high cost of beach chairs and umbrellas already burdens visitors, and restricting outside food is an attempt to force consumption at establishment bars and restaurants.
- He noted that Puglia's 2019 regulations only prohibit single-use plastics on beaches, allowing biodegradable containers for homemade food, suggesting restrictions on outside food are a pretext for higher revenue.
Puglia's regional president, Antonio Decaro, has publicly challenged tourism industry associations that deem bringing packed lunches to private beaches a reputational damage. Decaro argued that such a stance is unreasonable, especially given the already exorbitant prices for beach umbrellas and loungers.
"Do we really think that the image is damaged if someone dares to eat a sandwich or a slice of focaccia brought from home at a private beach establishment?" Decaro questioned. He suggested that restricting outside food is an "elegant way" to compel visitors to patronize the establishment's bar and restaurant, rather than a genuine concern for image or decorum.
Do we really think that the image is damaged if someone dares to eat a sandwich or a slice of focaccia brought from home at a private beach establishment?
Decaro reminded that Puglia has had decorum rules since 2019, which specifically ban single-use plastics on beaches. This means that anyone bringing food from home must use biodegradable cutlery and containers. He implied that the objections from tourism operators are not about image but about ensuring customers spend money on-site, stating, "The rest seems like just an elegant way to say: consume from us or nothing."
The rest seems like just an elegant way to say: consume from us or nothing.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Corriere della Sera in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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