Laura Alese - Federturismo Confindustria

🏖️ Italy, with over 447 million tourist presences in 2023, has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, ranking as the third most visited destination in Europe. The tourism sector, with €24 billion in turnover and 298,000 jobs, has grown annually by 34% since 2020. Teha Group's analysis highlights Veneto as a leader in sustainable tourism, ranking within the top 6 regions for supply and demand across five tourism types. Climate change has reduced foreign visitors to Italian UNESCO sites by 25% in summer, while 75% of tourists concentrate on only 4% of the national territory, indicating the need for strategic tourism delocalization and deseasonalization.

🕋 Over 60% of Italians plan to travel during Christmas, with a significant increase in demand for international trips. Caribbean destinations like the Dominican Republic are popular, with Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association noting a 13% increase in arrivals compared to last year. El Salvador leads Central America's growth with a 157% increase; Nicaragua and Guatemala also show significant growth. Iceland expects a 21.4% increase in tourism in December 2024 according to the Bank of Iceland. Research & Markets predict South America to rebound to pre-pandemic levels with 40.19 million travelers in 2024. European capitals remain top choices for short stays, with London anticipating a record 25.1 million visits and nearly £14 billion in tourist spending. In Italy, Milan and Naples are favored for Christmas atmosphere. For New Year's Eve, outdoor celebrations and parties are the trend, with Central and Eastern Europe gaining popularity. Approximately 70% of Italians are planning trips with a defined budget, seeking flexibility and cancellability in bookings, averaging €800 per person.

🏖️ In Italy, as of October, the National Index of Consumer Prices for Tourism (Nict) decreased by 1.3% monthly and 3.8% annually, contrasting with the previous month’s 4.6%. Vacation packages dropped from +13.0% to +9.6%, while accommodation and restaurant services fell from +4.0% to +3.5%. Maritime transport increased by +10.9% and domestic flights by +5.1%. Italy’s Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices for Tourism (Ipcat) in September 2024 reported a year-on-year increase of 3.9%, below the EU's 4.8%. Italy ranks second to last among EU countries for tourism inflation, with the highest in Poland at 7.4%.

🏞 Rural tourism in Italy is growing, with 61% of over 1,400 surveyed tourists preferring agritourism for autumn/winter seasons and 40% opting for holiday homes. In Italy, 74% of Italians and 53% of international visitors favor local destinations. Early booking trends show 15% of Italians and 27% of foreign guests have already booked trips. Top travel experiences include visiting villages (68% Italians, 77% internationals) and enjoying local food and wine (one third of Italians, 75% internationals). Destagionalization is expected in the coming year, with 54% Italians choosing summer and 45% spring. Italy remains the top destination (57%), even as 42% express interest in European travel. (Source: www.agriturismo.it, www.casavacanze.it, www.feries.it)

🏖️ EURISPES 2024 Report highlights Italy's need to leverage digital innovation and AI to boost its tourism sector. The "Turismo 4.0" program, part of Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan, invests over 2 billion euros in modernizing tourism offerings, focusing on digitization, sustainability, and improved tourism flow management. The Tourism Digital Hub aims to coordinate the tourism ecosystem and provide a personalized, accessible travel experience. At the G7 Tourism meeting in Florence, the report emphasized the role of innovation in enhancing Italy's international competitiveness, including AI adoption for better customer experiences and adaptable business models aligned with EU strategies for excellence in digitalization and sustainability.