There are 8.3 million Italians on holiday in this first quarter of the year with a mountain destination, according to the Confcommercio Tourism Observatory in collaboration with Swg, but the snow conditions, an increasingly relevant and difficult to control unknown, mean that new trends come forward: only 1 in 3 will have sport as their main interest (alpine or cross-country skiing or other disciplines or excursions) and there will be less competitive objectives such as relaxation, food and wine tastings, visits to typical markets, spas and wellness centres.
Furthermore, for 62% of the sample they will be short holidays, with a maximum of 2 nights at the destination, while 29% will do 3 to 5 nights.
Only 9% of Italians plan to stay in the mountains for 7 days or more, thus slightly distancing the myth of the "skiing week".
With an average per capita expenditure estimated at 350 euros, the choice of overnight stay solution sees tourist accommodation facilities, hotels and resorts in first place, preferably with well-equipped wellness areas: almost half of those interviewed prefer them.
Accommodation solutions typical of the mountain context such as huts, chalets and refuges still gain a significant 14%.
Exclusively Italian destinations in 87% of cases, with Trentino in the lead - over a quarter of the preferences - followed at a distance by Lombardy, Alto Adige and Valle d'Aosta.
Then, in order, Veneto, Piedmont and Friuli.
The other regions with mountain tourism offerings total approximately 20% of preferences overall: a gap that remains significant, also considering the geographical extension of the Apennines chain.
However, there are 10% of snow lovers across the border, mainly on the Alpine ridges of Switzerland and France, while 3% of those interviewed intend to spend holiday periods in the mountains of both Italy and other countries.
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