Italian Earthquake Seen to Have Little Effect on Tourism

More than 100 people have been reported killed and hundreds injured near L’Aquila in the Abruzzo region of central Italy where a 6.3 magnitude quake struck Monday about 60 miles from Rome at 3:30 a.m. local time.

While the Italian Government Tourist Office in New York said it would be too early to tell what the full impact will be on travel, Ester Lorusso, a marketing director for Italy specialist Central Holidays said that the tragic quake should have little or no impact on Italian travel.

According to the Italian Culture Ministry, damaged historical monuments in L’Aquila include the church of San Bernardino, the church of Sant’Agostino, the church of the Suffragio, the basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, and parts of the 16th century castle that houses the National Museum of Abruzzo.