The first quarter of 2024 sees a growth in revenues close to 9% for travel agencies compared to the same period of 2023 despite double-digit increases (+18%) of travel packages and travel policies with the guarantees of protection and assistance that they recorded an average increase of 26.7% over the twelve months but in view of the spring long weekends there was a 2.8% drop in requests. This is what a survey carried out by the Florence Tourist Study Center for Assoviaggi Confesercenti reveals, on a representative sample of travel agencies. The best sales performances were achieved by the agencies in the North-West and Central Italy with +9 and +9.8% respectively, with long-haul trips and cruises driving sales.
It is another chapter of revenge tourism which sees European destinations as the preferred destinations although there is no shortage of requests for Italian destinations with customers who come into the agency looking for exclusive proposals. Almost two thirds of travel agents report a growing trend in requests compared to 11.3% who report a decline and 24% who declare a stable trend. The requests for packages and stays which contributed to the turnover with a share of around 75%, confirming the sector’s ability to attract increasingly larger market segments, even among younger targets, as they are attentive to the quality of services, guarantees of assistance and more generally to the various forms of consumer protection. In fact, the survey showed that in the last year customers’ requests to purchase travel policies have increased on average by 26.7%.
«Despite the geopolitical tensions and the inflation which we hope will continue its path of decline in a more decisive manner together with the decrease in interest rates expected by June – explains Gianni Rebecchi president of Assoviaggi – we are intercepting a clear signal of growth in demand from the travelers who are looking for a selected and tailor-made product, professional consultancy to be able to navigate the jungle of tariffs and visas to access the destination countries, and advice on insurance policies that make the purchase and journey peaceful and guaranteed. However, be careful that, in this market phase, we can no longer see further increases in the costs of tourist services because they might seriously inhibit it.”
Between price increases and intercontinental travel
Dear crude oil, inflation and international tensions are fueling the increase in the price of packages which have increased by an average of 16% over the last 12 months. In particular, the increases in energy product prices have pushed up transport rates with increases of 27% but accommodation and catering services have also risen by an average of 22.3%. The market reaction is marked by caution: almost two thirds of agents report much more prudent and selective purchasing behavior. Among the best sellers of the period, both individual and group intercontinental trips are driving demand together with evergreen cruises. There are those who choose the warm seas, others the European capitals but the Mediterranean coasts are equally appreciated, including the Italian ones and the cities of art. Positive signals also from business travel and school tourism. In detail, foreign destinations are the favorite destinations for Italians and at the top of the list of travel requests we find Europe (58.8%) followed by North America (47.9%) Africa (44.5%) and the Middle East (21%). There was no lack of interest in Central/South American destinations (12.6%) and in East Asian and South-East Asian countries (12.6%). Finally, the requests for Italian destinations (37%) are not particularly high but still significant because many do not disdain do-it-yourself.
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2024-04-21 10:34:35
