Distribuzione e Revenue

🏬 Firenze leads winter sales with 40.1% of shops visited by tourists, followed by Milan (36.3%), Rome (34.4%), and Naples (32.1%). Milan holds the highest foreign tourist receipt average at €182 per purchase. Over half of foreign tourists prefer Italian high fashion brands (55.6%). According to Giulio Felloni, President of Federazione Moda Italia-Confcommercio, 60% of shops report sales in line or better than 2024, with a strong start and sustained interest, partly due to the reduced tax-free threshold from €155 to €70.

💸 In Italy, by the end of 2024, roasted coffee prices increased by 42.8% from 2021, reaching €12.66/kg, with Trieste being the most expensive city at €14.34/kg. Espresso prices in Italian bars rose by 18.1%, to an average of €1.21, with Bolzano having the highest cost at €1.38 per cup. Butter prices soared by 48.8% to €13.35/kg, with Turin being the priciest city at €15.85/kg. Chocolate bars saw a 26.9% hike to €1.60 for 100 grams, with Palermo having the highest price at €2.08. These increases impact consumer habits and the survival of public establishments.

📈 In 2024, Italian foodtech investments dropped by 52% to €115 million. xFarm's Series C round comprised 34% of investments, up 34% to €36 million. Series B rounds fell 79% to €6.6 million, and Series A rounds decreased by 56% to €24 million. Seed funding increased by 39% to €15.265 million, Pre-Seed by 60% to €5.5 million, and Crowdfunding by 14% to €16.625 million. Agritech grew by 282% to €51.27 million, innovative foods by 26% to €13.28 million, and digital food by 155% to €11.29 million, while restaurant-tech plunged 78% to €7.66 million. Anti-waste technology and circular economy investments were stable at €5.88 million. Pet-foodtech saw €1.28 million in investments. Lombardy attracted 69% of total funds (€76.243 million), followed by Piedmont (€10.51 million) and Emilia Romagna (€7.11 million). Northern Italy accounted for 94.1% of investments. Gender parity showed over a quarter of deals involving startups with at least one female founder, amounting to 13% (€15 million) of total funds.

🏨 Expedia TAAP introduces special discounts for travel agents, starting at 25% off hotels, available until January 26, 2025, for travel up to September 14, 2025. This limited-time offer applies to thousands of hotels worldwide. Expedia TAAP, collaborating with over 140,000 advisors, boasts an inventory of over 3 million properties, 220,000 activities, 120 car rental companies, and 500 airlines, supported by tools like virtual operators, data retrieval, booking modifications, and live chat.

💰 Vittorio Messina, president of Confesercenti Sicilia and Assoturismo, reported that Sicily saw a 20% dip in tourist flow during the holiday season compared to 2023-2024, with some cities like Agrigento experiencing up to a 25% decline. Nevertheless, Palermo and Catania recorded a positive 5% increase in arrivals. Italian, French, and German tourist numbers fell by 3%, while Spanish and American visitors increased. Sicilian airports were fully booked, thanks to government flight discounts over the holidays. Final numbers are expected by the end of January.

✈ In 2025, airline ticket prices are forecasted to increase by 10-15%, with engine maintenance and inspections potentially rising up to 30%. The rise is attributed to the utilization of older aircraft by airlines like Delta Airlines, Air Canada, and Qatar Airways due to new aircraft delivery delays from Boeing and Airbus. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is set to hike fees by 37% over three years, adding approximately €15 per passenger. Despite the post-pandemic recovery and sound financials of airlines, passengers are likely to bear some cost increases.

🛫 In 2024, Puglia's airports—Bari, Brindisi, and Foggia—surpassed 10 million passengers for the first time, reaching 10.7 million, a double-digit increase from 2023. The Bari Karol Wojtyla airport led with 7.2 million passengers, a 12.4% rise, compared to Brindisi's 6.7% increase. This milestone highlights Puglia's tourist appeal and strategic importance in Southern Italy, attributed to infrastructure investments, diversified routes, and enhanced services, as stated by Antonio Maria Vasile, President of Aeroporti di Puglia.

💵 Renfe, the Spanish rail carrier, cut refunds for 15 to 30-minute delays since July 1, aiming to save 22 million euros by replicating Ouigo and Iryo's model. In 2024, Renfe plans to allocate 20 million euros compared to the 41 million dispersed in 2023. The change is due to competitiveness and loss mitigation in the public transport and high-speed sectors.

🚀 Cathay Pacific flight left Hong Kong on January 1, 2025, and uniquely landed in Los Angeles on December 31, 2024. Departed at 00:21 local time, arrived after a 12-hour flight at 20:33 the previous day, due to crossing the International Date Line.

📍 Franco Cuccureddu, Regional Tourism Councilor of Sardinia, announced a plan to boost tourism growth through off-season promotion. The plan includes a specific call for the widespread hotel model, a vast fair schedule with 29 events, collaboration with Enit, and a lineup of major events, aiming to make Sardinia a year-round tourist destination. Funding will be allocated to encourage the development of widespread hotels and to recover areas at risk of degradation.