US, April 11 -- In Rome, power in Italy's tourism sector has rarely been so concentrated-or so delicately balanced between politics and technocracy.

The appointment of Gianmarco Mazzi as Minister of Tourism this month did more than fill a vacancy left by scandal. It set the stage for a critical partnership with Alessandra Priante, the internationally seasoned head of ENIT-a relationship that could define how Italy sells itself to the world in a period of mounting global competition.

Two power centers, one mandate ALessandra Priante At first glance, the division is clear:

The Ministry of Tourism, now led by Mazzi, sets policy and political direction ENIT, under Priante, executes a strategy-marketing Italy abroad, coordinating regions, ...