(Finance) – This year they will be 11.5 million Italians will leave for the Christmas holidays, spending on average 335 euros each, for a total total close to 4 billion eurosaccording to a survey commissioned by Facile.it to EMG Different.
Traveling at Christmas is becoming more and more common. Of those who will leave, 32% say they have a larger budget than last year, while 23% have reduced resources, especially due to economic difficulties. Most travelers will use their savings, but almost 2% requested a personal loan, share that rises to 4% among 25-34 year olds. Requests for travel financing, between October and November, had an average value of around 6,000 euros (+5% compared to 2023), to be repaid in 51 instalments.
27% of Italians will leave for the holidays, with one higher percentage among those under 35 (33%). Travelers from the North East (36%) are more likely to leave than those from the South and the Islands (less than 20%). The majority (87%) will choose Italian destinations, while 13% will opt for abroad, a figure that rises to 27% among those under 25.
The 66% will travel by car, traveling an average of 575 km and spending around 70 euros for a full tank, thanks to the relatively low fuel prices (1.76 euros/l in October). For those who will travel by plane (17%), Flight prices are rising sharply, with average increases of 15-20% compared to 2022 and peaks of 100% on some national routes. An example: a Milan-Catania flight records an increase of 50-60%. Even i train tickets have undergone significant increases, up to 300% on some routes. For example, the Milan-Reggio Calabria trip on December 20 can cost up to 345 euros, lasting over 9 hours. For those who choose ferries, the increases are more limited (10-20%).
About 7 million Italians will stay in paid facilities (28% in hotels, 20% in holiday homes, 17% in B&Bs), with an increase of 8.1% for average room prices. Ski enthusiasts have to deal with increases of up to 30% for ski passes compared to three years ago. In Bormio and Livigno, price increases exceed 27%.
More than 4 million travelers have already purchased or intend to purchase insurance. Average costs start from 28 euros for a week in Italy, 39 euros for Europe and 71 euros for the United States.
Christmas 2024 promises to be full of travel, despite the price increases, confirming a growing trend among Italians.