Tourism Law in Europe

2 1.1. The Sources of Italian Tourism Law The reconstruction of the sources of Italian Tourism Law involves an investigation conducted on several different levels 5 . First of all, international conventions, UNWTO soft law and EU law must be considered. Moreover, concerning domestic law, constitutional provisions, the national legislative framework and regional laws are highlighted. As pointed out below, the Italian regional governments have a general and exclusive competence in tourism, excepti for certain powers reserved for the State. 1.2. Tourism and the Italian Constitution Under the previous article 117 of the Constitution, the subject of “tourism and the hotel industry” fell within the shared legislative and administrative competence of the State and the Regions. However, following the federal reform of Italy’s constitutional system by Constitutional Law no. 3 of 18 October 2001, amending Title V of Part Two, tourism is no longer mentioned in the Constitution, which means there is currently no direct constitutional relevance to tourism. Notwithstanding, tourism may still be linked to fundamental constitutional values such as the protection of the landscape and the historical and artistic heritage [art. 9(2) of the Italian Constitution] and the individual rights of freedom (art. 2 Const.); to essential rights relating to the freedom of movement 6 (art. 16 Const.) or the social right to healthcare 7 (art. 32 Const.) and education (art. 34 Const.); as well as to individual freedoms, particularly the freedom of private economic initiative (art. 41 Const.). According to some scholars, tourism is a “social right”; according to others, it expresses a simple individual interest or preference; while others propose an approach in line with 5 Maurizio MALO & Cinzia COLALUCA, Competenze normative e fonti , in Vincenzo FRANCESCHELLI & Francesco MORANDI, Manuale di diritto del turismo , op . cit ., p. 25. 6 For the infrastructure and transport system, see Francesco MORANDI & Gianfranco BENELLI, Le infrastrutture dei trasporti e il demanio marittimo a finalità turistico-ricreativa , in Vincenzo FANCESCHELLI & Francesco MORANDI, Manuale di diritto del turismo , op . cit ., p. 107; and for transport contracts, see Francesco MORANDI, Valentina CORONA & Simone VERNIZZI, Contratti della navigazione e dei trasporti , in Vincenzo FANCESCHELLI & Francesco MORANDI, Manuale di diritto del turismo , op . cit ., p. 268. 7 For instance, spa tourism, see Alceste SANTUARI, Il turismo termale , in Vincenzo FANCESCHELLI & Francesco MORANDI, Manuale di diritto del turismo , op . cit ., p. 246.