Laura Alese - Federturismo Confindustria

🏆 Italy introduces a licensing exam for tourist guides, fulfilling a promise after over ten years. The exam, as per Law No. 190 dated December 13, 2023, was published on January 28, with over 4,000 candidates expected. It consists of a written test on various subjects, an oral exam in at least one foreign language, and a practical test simulating a guided tour. Successful candidates will be listed in the national registry at the Ministry of Tourism. Applications are to be submitted via the "inPA" portal within 30 days of the announcement.

🏖️ International arrivals returned to pre-Covid levels in 2024, with spending growth estimated at 4%. Tour operator volume rose by 9%, transport increased by 10%, and the receptive sector grew by 5%. E-commerce growth slowed to +5%. Air transport market surged by 10%, with a real growth driven by passenger increase, especially in the air sector, which represents two-thirds of the entire industry. Despite an 11% increase in transactions, airfares decreased by 2.1%, while car rental prices dropped by 1% with a 7% volume increase. Ground transport prices rose by 4.5% with an 11% transaction increase. Hospitality in Italy achieved approximately €38 billion, up 5%, propelled by higher prices, strong incoming traffic, and a resurgence in business travel. The open-air segment grew by 3%. Organized tourism with tour operators and travel agencies scored a +9%, with package costs up by an average of 12%. Forecasts predict further growth, especially in air transport by approximately 8%, while hospitality, tour operators, and agencies might see a +6% increase.

🏖 December 2024, Demoskopika analysis reveals a 0.5% monthly and 3.4% annual increase in tourism inflation in Italy, with a slowdown from the previous month's 4.0%. In 2024, the Nict tourism price index averaged +3.9%, down from 2023's +6.2%. Key sector increases: vacation packages (+4.7%), recreational/cultural services (+4.2%), transport services (+3.6%), accommodation and catering (+2.9%). Notably, recreational/sports services surged by +18.5% annually, maritime transport by +12.0%, domestic vacation packages by +7.3%, and passenger air transport by +5.7%. Air passenger transport jumped by +18.5% monthly, with domestic flights up +21.6% and international flights +17.7%. Vacation packages rose by +10.0%, while accommodation services, especially hotels, declined by -2.7%. The inflation gap between general and tourism price indices narrowed to 2.1 percentage points. Liguria and other regions exceeded the national price growth average. November 2024 data shows Italy's harmonized tourism price index (Ipcat) increased by 4.1% annually, compared to the EU's 4.8%.