Italy: Earthquakes threatens tourism

Italy’s strongest earthquakes in three years and more than 1,800 aftershocks are deterring tourists in the peak summer season, compounding a slowdown in the industry as Europe’s economy stagnates. With 110 kilometers of coastline and pulsing resort towns like Rimini and Riccione, the quake-stricken region of Emilia-Romagna is one of the country’s top summer destinations, attracting almost 9 million tourists a year. Many of them, especially foreigners, have cancelled trips following last month’s temblors, which killed at least 25 people, Alessandro Giorgetti, head of the Emilia-Romagna chapter of the Federalberghi hotel lobby, said in a phone interview. Read article