Those sailing in Campania can forget about saving money on berths!

Dear sailors who are planning to sail along the coast of Campania. Forget about saving money on the berth. Do you remember the “Sblocca Italia” decree passed in 2014? Among the many measures, there was one in favor of boating: the government had equated Marina Resorts with open-air accommodations. In “facilities organized for tourists to stop and stay overnight inside their units at the berth” would then be charged 10 percent VAT, as has always worked at other segments of tourism.

BYE BYE 10% VAT ON BERTHS
But since evidently in Italy we are just not able to maintain the (few) good things that the government has accomplished for an already well battered sector in recent years, the Constitutional Court has declared the illegitimacy of this measure: the exception of constitutionality was filed by the Campania Region, which objected that the state in deciding such equalization would violate the principle of “loyal cooperation” with the regions that have competence in tourism matters.

ONLY FRIULI, LIGURIA AND EMILIA ROMAGNA ARE SAVED
Now as a result of the ruling, 10 percent VAT could be applied only in the regions that have enacted specific regulations-Friuli, Liguria and Emilia Romagna-while for the others, including Campania, which has not seen fit to do so, penalizing treatment will be created.

UCINA, ASSOMARINAS, ASSONAT: “BAFFLED”
UCINA Confindustria Nautica, Assomarinas and Assonat express their “utter dismay” in a note issued accusing Campania of “sinking the boating industry.” “It is incomprehensible that, while a leading Made in Italy sector that is struggling to emerge from a five-year crisis that has halved its turnover, a palace issue is being put before the future of companies and workers,” comments Carla Demaria, president of UCINA-“the state has dictated a simple framework rule, as demonstrated by the regions that have legislated in detail on the matter.” Also according to Assomarinas and Assonat, “this is about a real mockery in light of the Court’s own ruling, in which it is recognized that since the issue also pertains to tax matters (of state competence), in itself the intervention of the national legislature would not be illegitimate” – commented presidents Roberto Perocchio and Luciano Serra – “but would have become so by failing to obtain prior agreement with the Conference of Regions for the implementing decree“.