The Holy Year is a special time, a time for reflection and spiritual renewal. The term comes from an ancient instrument, the yobel, a ram's horn whose sound marked the beginning of the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. This day of reconciliation occurs every year, but the Jubilee Year, as foreseen in the Bible, was celebrated every 50 years. It was a time when debts were forgiven, alienated lands were returned, and the earth itself rested. A call to restore harmony between God, people, and creation.
In the Gospel, Jesus resumes this tradition, proclaiming "the year of grace of the Lord", with the aim of bringing liberation and redemption. The first official Holy Year in Christian history was proclaimed by Boniface VIII in 1300, and since then it has been repeated at regular intervals, every 25 years, becoming an occasion of great affluence and spirituality.
Now, as we approach 2025, Rome is preparing to receive millions of pilgrims and visitors. It is estimated that over 35 million people will arrive from all over the world, but this is where the problems begin. Every month, businesses raise the same alarm: there is a shortage of workers. At a time when the Capital should be ready to welcome millions of guests, the hospitality and catering sector is in serious crisis, with a shortage of around 44,000 workers. There is a shortage of chefs, waiters, bar staff, cooks and other figures essential to offering adequate services.
The risk is clear: without sufficient personnel, the entire system risks going haywire. Claudio Pica, president of Fiepet Confesercenti of Rome and Lazio, said that the situation is now critical. This is a shortage that has existed for some time, but with the imminent arrival of millions of pilgrims, it is becoming a real emergency.
Yet, despite the difficulties, something is moving. The arrival of the Holy Year, combined with the recovery of tourism in Rome, is instilling new confidence among restaurateurs, hoteliers and service companies. Even though 1,928 businesses closed in the first quarter of 2024 alone, positive sentiment is growing. Confcommercio Roma reports that between December 2023 and March 2024, the number of entrepreneurs who predict an economic downturn has decreased, falling from 39% to 35%, and it is estimated that the confidence index could reach 40% in June.
The data clearly shows the recovery of tourism, with a higher number of arrivals than in 2019. Despite the closure of 2,844 bars and restaurants in 2023, 2024 saw a positive balance with the opening of 455 new establishments. However, the lack of approximately 44,000 workers remains one of the most difficult challenges to address.
Solutions are being sought: Fiepet has signed an agreement with the Pellegrino Artusi Hotel Institute in Rome to train new professionals in the sector, including through school-work alternation and collaborations with the Mercatorum University. It is hoped that these efforts, aimed at creating entrepreneurial and specialized figures, can alleviate the pressure. But will they be enough?
Meanwhile, sectors such as non-food retail continue to suffer from inflation, with a decline in customer numbers but an increase in the value of goods. In addition, credit requests are decreasing, with 59% of applications approved. Most are related to the need for liquidity, investments and debt restructuring.
Rome will face another great challenge: hospitality. Between pilgrims and tourists, the city could host between 30 and 35 million people, generating over 100 million presences in accommodation facilities. Yet, already today, 66% of available beds are occupied. Where will all these visitors stay? The risk of chaos is real.
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