G20Spiagge summit addresses seasonal tourism in Italian coastal towns

The ninth edition of the G20Spiagge Destination Summit concluded in Lignano Sabbiadoro, bringing together major Italian coastal municipalities to discuss the future of seaside tourism. A primary focus of the summit was the concept of ‘accordion cities’—locations that experience massive population surges during summer months, placing significant strain on administrative and financial resources.

Delegations from cities such as Montesilvano and Cattolica advocated for the legal recognition of ‘marine communities.’ This status would provide specific administrative and financial tools to help coastal towns manage the seasonal influx of visitors and services.

Participants also discussed strategies for seasonal diversification, or ‘destagionalizzazione.’ To reduce reliance on the summer months, municipalities are promoting local gastronomy, sports events, congress tourism, and cultural activities to attract visitors throughout the entire year.