TOP NEWS

📍 Circa 2 milioni di italiani prenoteranno viaggi per le feste natalizie e di fine anno tramite agenzia, segnando un calo del 4% rispetto all'anno precedente. Il fatturato del turismo organizzato è previsto crescere del 5% nel 2024. Le vendite delle agenzie di viaggio per le festività hanno subito una flessione del 3,4% per i viaggi all'estero e del 5,2% per le destinazioni italiane. Il Trentino Alto Adige guida le preferenze domestiche, mentre Spagna e Francia sono tra le mete estere più richieste.

🏕 By the end of 2024, the planet will have fully recovered from the Covid-induced crisis, with tourism numbers hitting 1.1 billion in the first nine months, equating to 98% of pre-pandemic levels. Italy showcased double-digit growth in tourism revenue compared to pre-Covid earnings. The UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili highlighted the positive impact on jobs and small businesses. The Middle East leads growth with a 29% increase in arrivals, while Qatar saw a 141% jump compared to 2019. Japan topped the list with a 59% rise in tourism revenue for 2023, followed by Turkey at 41% and France at 27%. The UK, Canada, and Australia also reported significant gains in the first half of 2024, with the US seeing a 7% increase from January to September.

🎢 In 2024, Italian cruise industry recorded 14.1 million passenger movements, slightly up from 13.8 million in 2023. Civitavecchia led with 3.4 million passengers (+2.5% vs 2023) and 860 ship calls (+6.3%). Naples followed with 1.73 million passengers (+4.9%) and 454 ship calls. Genoa had 1.5 million passengers (-11.7%) with 308 calls (-9.4%), while Palermo surpassed one million passengers. By 2025, passenger movements may exceed 15 million. Global cruise tourists are projected to reach 40.8 million by 2028, a 14.3% increase from 2024, with available beds rising by 10% to 745,000.

🏖️ In 2024, the Italian tourism industry faced a trend inflation of +3.6% and a 10.9% increase in average daily hotel rates due to higher energy costs, impacting 37% of tourism operators negatively. The sector is challenged by a lack of digitization, with 43.7% of hotels showing low digital attitude, resulting in fewer bookings. Direct booking at hotels is rising annually, fueled by special packages and services. Social media, especially among 40% of Gen Z preferring it over Google, influences 90% of their purchase decisions. The Osservatorio Mr PRENO notes an increasing importance of sustainability in traveler choices, with many willing to pay more for eco-friendly options.

📅 In Lecce, the first biennial ITS course for 'Travel Office manager' commenced, organized by the 'ITS Academy Regionale della Puglia per l’Industria della Ospitalità e del Turismo Allargato,' Aidit Federturismo, and Confindustria Lecce. Aimed at training professionals capable of traditional tourism organization roles, it includes tasks pertinent to agency desk personnel, hotel staff, tourist info points, and corporate travel offices. Stefania Mandurino of Aidit Federturismo emphasizes the necessity of professional training for modern tourism businesses, particularly due to informed customers and technological changes in product development and sales.

🍸 Palermo transformed into the mixology capital during the second Palermo Cocktail Week from November 18-24, involving 22 venues with exclusive menus and prestigious guests. The event highlighted small and medium-sized companies' high-quality products, including artisanal spirits and traditional liqueurs, and featured masterclasses and workshops at Villa Filippina. Trends discussed included a blend of classic drink recipes with modern twists, the growing popularity of Japanese yuzu in cocktails, sustainability in drink production, and customer-centric hospitality experiences.

🏥 At the Wellness Hospitality Conference in Milan on November 21, over 600 attendees, 30 partner companies, and 15 media outlets gathered to discuss wellness trends with 30 experts. The event, organized by Teamwork Hospitality at NH Collection Citylife, featured speakers like Cristina Mottironi from Bocconi University, Laszlo Puczko of HTWWLife, and Giorgio Ribaudo of Thrends. The next conference is scheduled for November 20, 2025.

🍷 Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida recently presented the 'Dealcolizzati' ministerial decree draft, regulating production of Nolo (no and low alcohol) wines in Italy. Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) appreciates the detailed legal framework, aligning with European competitors three years post EU regulation and opening new market opportunities. The decree defines dealcoholized wines (max 0.5% alcohol) and partially dealcoholized wines (above 0.5% but below 8.5%/9%), with strict labeling, production, and de-alcoholization process guidelines. UIV suggests improvements and urges rapid approval before the upcoming Christmas.

🏨 B&B HOTELS inaugurated its seventh establishment in Piedmont, the B&B HOTEL Alba, expanding its brand with over 850 hotels in Europe and more than 75 in Italy. The hotel features 89 rooms, Wi-Fi at 300 Mb/s, Smart TV with Chromecast, a B&B Shop, and a buffet breakfast available from 7:00 to 10:00 AM. Additionally, it offers a Meeting Room with a 100-person capacity and a parking lot for 70 vehicles. Liliana Comitini, the company's leader for Italy, Slovenia, and Hungary, emphasizes the brand's evolution and commitment to promoting regional tourism.

🏖️ Presidente di Federturismo Confindustria Marina Lalli partecipò al Forum UniCredit "Build Your Destination" il 27 novembre a Roma. L'Industry Book di UniCredit rivela che il turismo italiano prevede una crescita annua del fatturato superiore al 3% dal 2024 al 2026. Il settore punta su turismo sostenibile, MICE, grandi eventi come il Giubileo e colmare il gap di competenze. Federturismo sottolinea l'importanza di adeguarsi ai cambiamenti nel modo di viaggiare e promuovere i territori.