President of Tuscany Enrico Rossi told the Grosseto city court that the region plans to ask for €30 million (around USD 38 million) in damages from Costa for marring Tuscany’s image that lead to a drop in tourism of 7 pct, Italian daily LA Nazione writes.
Rossi blamed the disaster that saw the tilted Concordia wreck sit at the Island of Giglio for over two and a half years before it was finally removed in July for losing 45,000 visitors.
Carlo Scarpa, a consultant to Giglio’s local government, filed for €190m (around USD 237 million) in damages to the same court, on the same grounds.
According to Rossi, it will take years before Tuscany restores its image as a top tourist destination which will in turn require substantial investment.
The two officials spoke during an ongoing trial against Concordia’s captain, Francesco Schettino.
The captain is facing multiple charges including manslaughter and abandoning ship.
Costa Concordia capsized in January 2012 killing 32 people.
The grounding of the cruise ship, carrying 4,252 people at the time, is believed to had been caused by the captain’s recklessness, as the ship came too close to the Giglio island where it got stuck and later collapsed.
Costa Concordia wreck was towed to the Port of Genoa for scrapping at the end of July this year in what was dubbed as a historic salvage operation.
Remains of what is believed to be the last missing victim were found early November and are pending DNA tests for confirmation.
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