Scuba crysis!

[mad]

voices are different but this summer Italy saw a reduction of 20-30% in the main turistic places.
Scuba was even worse!

and what about you?
bye, Marco

 

[yknot]

Do you think that the Olympics drew some of those tourists away? In the US, the economy is still weak in a lot of regions. Gasoline has been between $1.80-$1.90 per US gallon in my area (0.39 to 0.41 Euros per liter, approx). This may not sound bad in Italy but these are historically high prices for us and have had an impact on discretionary spending.

 

[Rick Inman]

Here in Spokane, all three divers are still diving.

 

[Scubaguy62]

In So. Fla. we're still diving with no apparent decline!!

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Tourist arrivals and dive certifications are way up on Grand Cayman compared to last year.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I wish some of the divers in our area would go to Italy ... then I wouldn't have to wait for a parking spot to open up at our local dive sites ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[DeputyDan]

The Olympics were a flop for tourists.

I heard on national news (in the US) that the total out of country visitors to the Olympics was around 14,000.

They were expecting close to 150,000.

I personally think people don't want to bother with all the security hassles, customer no-service and possible terrorist activity.

 

[Lemonade]

...people don't want to bother with all the security hassles, customer no-service and possible terrorist activity.

That and Dollar is weak vs. Euro.
A trip to Europe these days will cost an American easily 50% more than 4 years ago.

 

[Rick Inman]

I wish some of the divers in our area would go to Italy ... then I wouldn't have to wait for a parking spot to open up at our local dive sites ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

And yet some NAUI instructors are actually promoting for MORE new divers!!! :11:

 

[mad]

Do you think that the Olympics drew some of those tourists away? In the US, the economy is still weak in a lot of regions. Gasoline has been between $1.80-$1.90 per US gallon in my area (0.39 to 0.41 Euros per liter, approx). This may not sound bad in Italy but these are historically high prices for us and have had an impact on discretionary spending.

I really don't think Olympics drew away tourists, the problem are salaries: life cost with Euro increased of about 90-100% even if the Gov says +2.7% every year, it's not true. We had a change for prices bw Lira-Euro of 1000:1 instead of 1000:0.5 and every year this is getting worse. Occupation is also changing with lowest salaries and less incentives so the first think people cut from budget are the non basic ones: scuba included. I am really a real viewer (neither optimistic nor pessimistic) and I think this will always be worse but it's a long talk...
The other problem of tourism are foreing european friends: they also cut travels (expecially in Germany I think).

Ciao, Marco