Sicily’s Agrigento tells tourists ‘No water, no visit’ as the region grapples with severe water shortages. The ancient city’s famous aqueducts have run dry, forcing local hotels and guesthouses to turn away visitors. Climate change and global warming have exacerbated the drought, leading to emergency water restrictions in 93 regions. Tourism and agriculture, crucial to Sicily’s economy, are significantly affected by the scarcity. In response, Sicily’s regional government has sought aid from Rome, but no concrete plan has emerged yet
Agrigento, Italy’s vacation paradise, warned tourists: Don’t come, we have no water.
Weather events caused by climate change and global warming continue to threaten world-famous tourism regions. Agrigento on Italy’s Sicily Island announced to tourists, “Don’t come, we don’t have enough water” due to water shortages.
Agrigento, located on a hill on Sicily Island, is a vacation paradise for tourists visiting Sicily. Beneath the archaeological structures and ruins of the Valley of the Temples, there is still an ancient labyrinth-like aqueduct system that captures water today.
However, for months, the aqueduct and other aqueducts built in modern times have been so dry that small hotels and guesthouses in the city and nearby coasts have had to turn tourists away. According to CNN, hotels do not have enough water to guarantee their guests a flushing toilet or a shower after spending a day in the summer heat.
WATER RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT IN 93 REGIONS
Sicily began implementing water restrictions in February when the region declared a state of emergency in the midst of relentless drought. This situation worsened the scarcity, which also affected tourism and agriculture, two sectors vital to Sicily’s economy.
Water restrictions are in effect for over a million people in 93 regions. Some have to reduce water consumption by up to 45%. This means faucets do not flow according to schedule, and water sources are completely cut off overnight in most places. Having enough water to drink depends on being organized throughout the day.
FIRST WILDFIRES, NOW A WATER CRISIS
The regional government of Sicily requested subsidies from Rome to bring water from the mainland, but there is no concrete plan to assist the island yet. In April, Italy’s Tourism Minister Diana Santanchè stated that Sicily should try to extend its tourism season and avoid focusing only on the summer months when water problems worsen. Last year, severe wildfires on the island forced tourists to evacuate or postpone their visits. Now, water shortages triggered by drought are another concern.