Running a mountain refuge

The business commences at the same time as the SCIA is submitted to the local council where the property intended for use as a mountain refuge is situated, via the One-Stop Shop for Productive Activities (SUAP).

The Cableway, Sports and Mountain Infrastructure Service will then register the accommodation facility in the Provincial Tourism Information System andprovide the login details for accessing the STU system.

The regulatory obligations regarding the management of a mountain refuge are:

• online reporting of tourist movements to ISTAT. Thisregulatory obligation is laid down bythe Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of 22 July 2011 – Article 1,which provides that, with effect from 1 July 2013, the exchange of data for statistical purposes between businesses and public administrations must take place exclusively by electronic means;
• for hiking refuges only, payment of the tourist tax to Trentino Riscossioni.  The provincial tourist tax is payable to the Autonomous Province of Trento and is collected by the operators of accommodation facilities, who act as withholding agents pursuant to Article 64 of Presidential Decree No. 600/1973.  The collection, monitoring, refund and all other aspects of the tax’s administration, including administrative penalties, are entrusted to Trentino Riscossioni S.p.A.;
• for hiking refuges only, the names of guests must be reported to the Public Security authorities within 24 hours, exclusively via the weballoggiati.it portal, accessible using the login details provided by the Trento Police Headquarters.

The commencement of operations in mountain huts includes overnight accommodation, the provision of food and drink of all kinds, and the retail sale of items for tourists.

Owners or managers of a mountain refuge.

The mountain hut manager must meet the following personal requirements:

• knowledge of the local area and the routes leading to the mountain hut and neighbouring huts, so as to be able to provide adequate information to walkers, mountaineers and tourists. With a view to safeguarding the mountains, the manager is therefore required, with the support of their staff, to ensure, during the mountain hut’s opening period, to carry out site inspections along the various routes or to obtain information regarding their passability from mountain guides and mid-mountain guides, as well as from those responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of mountain trails.
• Ability to carry out the necessary first aid procedures, either through having completed first aid courses or by being a member of the National Alpine and Speleological Rescue Corps. This regulatory provision places on the manager at least the obligation to make an emergency call to the single emergency number 112. There is also a continuing obligation to keep first-aid and dressing materials in a designated cupboard at the mountain refuge.
• Finally, the operator must not be subject to any prohibitions, disqualifications or suspensions provided for under anti-mafia legislation (Article 67 of Legislative Decree No. 159 of 6 September 2011).

Following the inclusion of the mountain refuge in the Tourism Information System (STU), the Cable Car, Sports and Mountain Infrastructure Service will providethe credentials required to access one’s own personal details directly and to generate simple reports based on one’s own data.

The mountain hut operator must take the following steps to comply withthe regulatory obligationsset out in current legislation:

• submit guests’ arrivals and departures online(formerly ISTAT form C-59) to fulfil statistical requirements aimed at monitoring guest numbers in mountain huts. In Trentino, tourist movements can be submitted to the Provincial Tourism Information System using one of the available submission methods, in agreement with the relevant tourism promotion body (see all the information);

• for hiking refuges only, collection and payment of the Tourist Tax. This tax is payable by every person staying overnight in accommodation facilities located within the province and applies to each stay of up to 10 consecutive nights, based on the rates set by the Provincial Executive for the relevant type of accommodation and area. (see the dedicated section on PAYMENTS). At the end ofeach four-month period, the declaration must be submitted and the amount collected paid via the website PAGOSEMPLICE using the login details provided by Trentino Riscossioni. (see all the information).

• Operational SCIA: the day before the actual start of operations
• ISTAT reports on tourist movements: within 24 hours of the day following that on which either arrivals or departures were recorded
• Payment of tourist tax: at the end of each four-month period, a declaration must be submitted and the amount collected paid
• Notification of guests’ details to the Public Security authorities: within 24 hours of arrival