Water Crisis in Agrigento, Sicily: A Tourism and Agriculture Dilemma
Agrigento, a heritage-rich city on the Italian island of Sicily, faces a severe water crisis. The city’s ancient and modern aqueducts are running dry, affecting local hotels and guesthouses, which are now unable to guarantee basic amenities for tourists.
Water restrictions have been enforced since February due to a relentless drought, exacerbated by aging infrastructure. Over one million people across 93 communities are impacted, with water consumption reduced by up to 45%, and supply often cut off overnight.
Tourists are questioning the worth of visiting affected areas, and hotels are advising potential visitors about shortages and helping them rebook to less affected areas. The hospitality sector is facing significant economic threats as tourism, a vital part of Sicily’s economy, suffers.
The Sicilian government has sought subsidies from Rome to import water, but no definitive plan has been established. The tourism minister suggested extending the tourism season to mitigate summer shortages.
Agrigento, named the Italian Capital of Culture for 2025, saw a 24% increase in visitors in 2023, but the ongoing water crisis threatens this growth. The drought has also devastated agriculture, forcing farmers to cull livestock and watch their crops shrivel.
This water scarcity, driven by climate change, has left the region’s aquifers and reservoirs critically low. Without significant rainfall, the situation is expected to worsen, impacting both the tourism and agricultural sectors heavily.