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🏢 Italy is Europe's queen and second in the world for congresses in 2023 and likely 2024, according to "Italian Knowledge Leaders" by Convention Bureau Italia. The country is second in Europe for converting knowledge leaders into confirmed congresses (nearly 40%). In 2023, Italy ranked first with 553 congresses, followed by Spain (505) and France (472). Projections place Italy at the top for 2024 with 540 events, contributing about 20% to national tourism flows. Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè and Convention Bureau Italia's President Carlotta Ferrari highlighted Italy's post-pandemic recovery and the role of knowledge leaders.

🏆 Italy ranks top in Europe and second in the world for the number of conferences held in 2023, with projections maintaining this position for 2024, as reported at the 'Italian Knowledge Leaders' event organized by the Convention Bureau Italia. Italy hosted 553 conferences in 2023, leading Spain (505) and France (472), and is set to remain first in 2024 with 540 planned events. Conferences contribute around 20% to national tourism flows, with Italy converting nearly 40% of its knowledge leaders into confirmed conferences.

🏖 In 2023, Italy saw a record-breaking tourism year with 133.6 million arrivals and 447.2 million overnight stays, surpassing 2019's peak. Tourist flows increased by 12.8% in arrivals and 8.5% in overnight stays compared to 2022. Foreign tourist presence, accounting for 52.4% of demand, grew by 23.2% in arrivals and 16.5% in overnight stays, while domestic growth was more modest at 3.7% and 1%, respectively. The summer months of June-September concentrated 58.6% of annual stays, with Italy outperforming the European average with an 8.5% increase versus the EU27's 6.8%.

🏖️ 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.

🏕 At the COP 29 in Baku, the inaugural Tourism Day led to the adoption of the "Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism" by over 50 countries. The historic agreement, as reported by traveldailynews.com, commits to mitigating the tourism industry's impact on climate change and promoting adaptation and regenerative strategies. This marks an official acknowledgment of the climate emergency and the sector's emissions impact.

🕋 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.

🏖️ In Italy, 215 million tourist presences are estimated in 2024, with expenses reaching €62 billion. Foreign visitors in August alone accounted for 40 million presences and over €6.5 billion in revenue. National properties for tourist rentals are less than 2% of the 9.5 million vacant properties, about 27% of the total housing stock. In Rome, rent prices surged by 12.2% from September 2023 to September 2024, according to Idealista.it.