(Finance) – On the tourism front, the choices of Italians in August confirm the tradition. The holidays of 14 million Italians, of the 22 million traveling, are concentrated in the two central weeks of the month (from 8 to 21 August), and, as always, the sea it is the first choice that “captures” 61% of the demand. This is the picture that emerges from the data ofConfcommercio Observatory in collaboration with SWG detected in August.
There total expensefor what in one case out of two is the main holiday of 7 or more days, it is over 11 billion euros. Among the destinations also the mountain which is positioned after the sea at 23%, while cities of art and small villages are hosting almost 20% of Italians on vacation these days. In 83% of cases, the choice is national, even if, for longer holidays, 26% of the sample choose abroad.
From the point of view of you come from abroad summer 2022 – as theanalysis carried out by Coldiretti on the occasion of the August 15th weekend on data from the Bank of Italy relating to the months of July, August and September – records theabsence of 377 thousand tourists from Russia who traveled to Italy before the pandemic, choosing the most prestigious cities of art and seaside destinations as their destination. Tourists characterized by a high spending capacity which in the period considered amounted to 386 million euros. The absence of the Russians – underlines Coldiretti – was, however, compensated by the overbearing return of foreigners from other countries, starting with the United States, benefiting from the particularly favorable exchange rate. There were also good arrivals from Germany, France and Great Britain.
Overall in 2022 foreign travelers in Italy more than tripled (+ 216%) with a decisive recovery in tourism, even if arrivals remain 36% lower than in 2019, the year before the pandemic, according to Coldiretti’s analysis based on Bank of Italy data which in the first quarter of the year highlights the arrival of well 15.8 million travelers from abroad.
The presence of Italians is also growing with 35 million adults who decided to go on vacation for at least a few days in the summer of 2022, an increase of 4% compared to last year despite the increases triggered by inflation and the concern for international tensions with the war in Ukraine. According to the Coldiretti / Ix analysis, it is disclosed in the summer weekend of great exodus to the holiday resorts with the black stamp due to the risk of long queues and inconvenience for motorists.
The 2022 holidays of Italians register a clear preference on national destinations – continues Coldiretti – pushed by a greater proximity to the places of residence, by the desire to rediscover the beauties of Italy or by the desire to return to already known places where one has enjoyed oneself in previous years and is more peaceful than the environment , services and people. But – continues Coldiretti – there is also a 23% share of Italians, almost 1 in 4 among those who travel, who have decided to spend a holiday abroad despite fears related to the difficult international situation, costs and inconveniences in air transport.
Among favorite entertainment of Italian and foreign tourists this summer alongside art, tradition, relaxation and pure fun, there is the search for local food and wine has become the first item of the Made in Italy holiday budget in 2022 with about 1/3 of the consumption expenditure in the restaurant, street food or to buy souvenirs.
“Italy is the only country in the world that can count primates in the quality, environmental sustainability and safety of its agri-food production which, moreover, has contributed to maintaining over time a territory with landscapes of unique beauty – said the president of Coldiretti Ettore Prandini -. The defense of biodiversity has not only a naturalistic value, but it is also the real added value of national agricultural production and a driving force behind the Made in Italy holiday “.