Hi, I just joineed your group and I hope you find this article interesting!
Giorgio Schiavoni

by buzzinrome.com

ROME - October 6, 2010. Financial meltdown, economic slump, subprime 

crisis? All of these words seem to belong to the past for the tourism 

industry in Rome.
The number of tourists visiting Italy's capital in August grew by 11,5%,

the vicemayor Mauro Cutrufo said on October 6, citing figures from a 

study of the Ente Bilaterale del Turismo del Lazio – EBTL - Rome region's

employers and employees tourism board.
June and July also posted two-digit growth figures: 10,6% and 11,2% 

respectively. Actually, in the first eight months of the year, according

to the EBTL's report, vacationers rose by an overall 9% compared with the

same period of 2009. And the forecasts are also optimistic, the vicemayor

told the press: in the last four months of 2010 the expectation is for a

10% increase, with American tourists’ bookings up 12% in September and 

October.
“This means that the average 2010 volumes will be the same as the 

end-of-2007 peaks,” Cutrufo said. But this is not enough for the 

ambitious city government that wants to bring a Formula 1 race in Rome 

by 2013 and is making a serious bid to host the Olympic Games in 2020.
In the meanwhile, it is trying to increase the number of tourists by 

tapping emerging markets such as Brasil, China and India. A very hard 

task as long as there will only be one direct flight to each of these 

countries from Rome's intercontinental airport Fiumicino-Leonardo Da 

Vinci.
According to the “National Tourism Plan” crafted by 

PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of Italy's travel business association 

Federturismo-Confindustria, a more promising and long-sighted strategy is

the realization of the so-called Second District. The creation of sights

and attractions in the southern part of the city and along the coast of 

Rome that have nothing to do with arts, culture and religion, the main 

current drivers of tourism in Rome.
Recreation and green parks, new golf clubs, expanded congress and fair 

events, and improved yachting and sailing facilities should boost 

alternative tourism: travelers who are not particularly interested in 

ancient monuments and churches, and those who have already been to Rome 

and would only make another visit to experience something completely new.

The idea that Rome is not only the Vatican and the Colosseum also 

inspires BuzzInRome.com, the only travel blog written in English by 

locals but conceived for international tourists, with all the latest info

and updated news to enjoy the city at the fullest.
The website aims to take Rome’s guide books to a different level, 

providing timely information for instance about the recent opening of a 

new museum or restaurant, the extension of an interesting exhibition for

you and your kids, the details of your favourite singer’s upcoming 

concert. Conveying the atmosphere of Rome’s life, the most fashionable 

trends and recent developments, it will help tourists enjoy the Roman 

lifestyle, "la dolce vita", even if they are just staying for a few days.