Easter growth for tourism: for the period from 30 March to 2 April, over 7 million visitors are expected in the official accommodation facilities of our country, with an increase of +1.2% compared to last year.
And the driving force is above all foreign presences, an increase of + 3.2% over 2023. This emerges from a survey conducted by the Florence Tourist Studies Center for Assoturismo Confesercenti, on a sample of 1,308 Italian hospitality businesses.
Overall positive forecasts, therefore, even if the comparison with last year is difficult due to the different placement of the calendar for this Easter 2024. The share of Italian presences for the holiday period is estimated at 51% of the total movement, 49% for the foreign presences.
But while the latter show a strong increase, Italian demand shows a slight decline (-0.8%): the reduction in purchasing power continues to weigh on budgets and consumption choices.
The expected trend is positive throughout the country, although not uniform for all types of offers and all areas.
The regions of the North West will record the most significant changes in the movement with +1.8% (-0.4% of Italians and +4.2% of foreigners), followed by the regions of the Center with +1.2% (-0.9% of Italians and +3.4% of foreigners).
The estimate for the Southern Islands areas instead stops at +0.7% (-0.4% of Italians and +2.3% of foreigners).
For the North East the estimate is +0.9% (-1.1% of Italians and +2.7% of foreigners).
Also for the next Easter holidays it will still be the artistic and cultural heritage of the cities/art centers and the villages, the Italian excellences, that will arouse the greatest interest towards the demand, especially foreign ones, with an estimated increase in attendance of +2.7%, but without expectations of 'sold out'.
Another significant share is expected in mountain ski destinations (+2.1%).
For lake and countryside/hill locations the estimates indicate +1.1% and +0.3% respectively, while a slight decline is expected for marine destinations (-0.7%) and spa destinations (-0.7% ).
Italian demand will be the majority in coastal, spa and 'other interest' locations.
Foreign tourists, however, will mainly visit cities/art centres, countryside/hill locations, lakes and mountains.
The nationalities of origin are mainly European: German tourists are reported to be on the increase in lakeside locations, in the structures of cities and art centers and in the countryside/hills.
As far as French visitors are concerned, the favorite destinations are cities and art centers, but also structures in seaside resorts, mountains and rural areas.
The demand from Swiss travellers, however, is concentrated on lake, marine and mountain locations.
For Belgians, market preferences are oriented more towards stays in cities of art, rural and mountain locations, while for Spaniards the most requested destinations are cities of art.
That of the Americans is the non-European market that shows the greatest growth: the choices are oriented towards cities of art, villages and smaller towns, rural and hilly areas.
Other markets reported to be increasing are, in order of importance, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Arab countries and South American countries.
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