Laura Alese - Federturismo Confindustria

🗽 In 2024, 50 nationalities, including over 20% under 25, traversed Italy's main religious route, the Via Francigena, for spiritual and cultural experiences. Departures spread throughout the year, with April favored (26%). The Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, supports the sector with funds and agreements. 87% walked, while cyclists decreased to 13%. There's a slight male majority (51.4%). Italians are the largest group (70.7%), followed by France, the USA, the UK, and the Netherlands.

🎃 Carnevale tourism in Italy, from February 28 to March 4, generates over €450 million. Key locations include Venice, Viareggio, Fano, Ivrea, Putignano, Cento, Acireale, Sappada, Sciacca, and Mamoiada, impacting not just the event towns but their entire districts. Venice tops the economic movement chart, followed by Viareggio and then Ivrea (famous for the 'Battle of the Oranges') and Fano in third place. Foreign tourists significantly contribute to the Carnevale economy. For more details: [CNA Italy](https://www.cna.it/).

🏖 Nel 2024, il turismo internazionale ha eguagliato i livelli del 2019, con un incremento annuale del 13%. L'Asia, l'Europa e l'America Latina hanno visto aumenti rispettivamente del 9%, mentre il Nord America del 7%. La Spagna rimane la destinazione più popolare, seguita dagli USA. Il business travel, soprattutto il segmento Mice, comprende due terzi del mercato dei viaggi d'affari. Nonostante l'aumento dei costi, la tendenza al viaggio permane, con previsioni di crescita anche per il 2025.

🏖️ European tourism in Q4 2024 saw a +6.7% increase in foreign arrivals and a +4.8% rise in overnight stays compared to Q3 2023. Tourists spent 7.8% more in Europe in 2024, totaling €705 billion, with Western Europe driving nearly three-quarters of the regional expenditure. Despite geopolitical instability and high travel costs due to inflation, off-season and winter travel remained strong. Southern Europe's tourism growth slowed, while Northern Europe, especially Iceland with a +14% increase in arrivals in Q4 driven by natural attractions like the aurora boreale, gained popularity. Extreme weather events affected travel, notably in Spain's Valencia province, causing a slump in growth (-4.2% in November, -6.3% in December). Long-haul travel from Asia/Pacific, particularly China, is still -39.6% below pre-Covid levels, while US transatlantic trips mostly surpassed 2019 levels, with Turkey (+153%), Portugal (+91%), and Montenegro (+49%) leading the recovery.