A start to the year which, if confirmed in the coming months, will make 2024 the best year ever for the Italian tourism industry. In fact, according to Istat data, in the two-month period January-February, 38.2 million tourists were registered, of which 18.8 million were foreign. In the same two-month period of 2019, a record year thanks to the massive arrivals from abroad, attendance was 35.6 million. A growth linked to incoming which sees an increase of 2 million (+11.7%) in presences in the period while the Italian ones grow by 700 thousand units, with a discreet +3.5%.
«These first pieces of evidence make it largely possible that the attendance record of 2019 will be surpassed in 2024 – comments Luciano Sbraga, director of the FIpe – Confcommercio Study Center -. That objective narrowly missed out, due to a terrible July, in 2023. Tourism therefore provides a first important contribution to the process of building growth which should bring GDP to around +1% in the current year ». An important element is linked to the national tourism data which sees an increase in travellers.
Extended season at high altitude
In the coming months we will be dealing with an extended winter season: in Madonna di Campiglio and on the Passo del Tonale the lifts will close on Sunday while on the Presena glacier on May 5th while in the Dolomites, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, on the slopes of Faloria and of Col Gallina, will all remain open until Wednesday 1st May. The pearl of the Dolomites looks with optimism to the arrival of summer and between June and September 2024, the average of bookings currently exceeds 50%, an increase of more than 10 percentage points compared to the same date in 2023 according to the Hoteliers’ Association Ampezzo. June, at the moment, is the most requested month (62% of employment acquired), thanks above all to the happy coincidence with some of the most anticipated sporting events of the period: the Cortina-Dobbiaco Run which will be held on June 2nd and which to date is at 64% occupancy, the Dolomiti Extreme Trail (from 7 to 9 June 2024) for which the occupancy rate has already reached 75%, and the Lavaredo Ultratrail, scheduled for 26 to 30 June with occupancy acquired which currently reaches 81%. From the comparison with 2023, the significant increase in bookings received specifically for the summer is significant (+24.1%). A sign that the Dolomites attract a lot in the summer months: July is around 57% of occupancy acquired, August has already reached 45% (49% if only the long August 15th weekend is considered), while September is at 49%. , achieved the greatest growth (+12%). A fact that makes us think further, especially if we consider that there are still several months to go.
Wine tourism phenomenon
Another trend that is clearly on the rise is that of wine tourism. This year the wineries are preparing to welcome 12 million tourists with an increase of a fifth and at least 18 million overnight stays are expected. This is what emerges from a joint investigation by Cna Turismo e Commercio and Cna Agroalimentare released on the eve of Vinitaly, the wine and spirits exhibition which will be held in Verona from Sunday 14th to Wednesday 17th April. The vast majority of wine tourists will be approximately two-thirds Italian. Foreigners include shares of Americans followed by Germans, British, Swiss, Dutch, Austrians. There is also a growing number of enthusiasts coming from Asia, Oceania and South America. A medium-high range of visitors who purchase, order bottles and other local specialties made in Italy. During the harvest period there are those who dedicate themselves to experiential activities, in short those with which they ‘get their hands dirty’ by engaging in agricultural or artisanal tasks.
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2024-04-14 04:12:30
