Abruzzo’s beaches are deserted during peak tourist season, with one historic beach operator describing the situation as “counting sheep.” Riccardo Padovano, President of the regional beach operators’ union (Sib Confcommercio), reported a 25% drop in July consumption compared to July 2024 while giving a preliminary assessment of the summer season.
“Seasonal passes remain steady overall,” stated Padovano, “but many customers aren’t coming to the beach because going to the sea has simply become too expensive. The issue isn’t pricey umbrellas; it’s the high cost of living. This is causing the empty beach effect we’re seeing this summer. We see more visitors on weekends, but they’re locals. The tourists are missing.”
Padovano emphasized that while this topic is debated nationwide, the situation is uniformly bleak across the entire Abruzzo coast. “People aren’t coming to the sea because overall costs have risen – like motorway tolls, petrol, and parking,” he explained. “Even local bed and breakfasts and accommodations have seen a downturn, with an estimated 30% remaining vacant. This isn’t a shift to other destinations; people just aren’t traveling at all.”