Nearly 14 million Italians are set to travel for the April 25th and May 1st holidays, with 4.1 million opting for an extended vacation spanning both periods. According to a survey conducted by Tecné for Federalberghi, Italians plan to spend an average of EUR 485 per capita, amounting to a total turnover of approximately EUR 1.96 billion. For April 25th, 90.2% of respondents will stay within Italy, while 9.8% will venture abroad. Domestic travelers prefer seaside destinations (39.7%), art cities (25.6%), and mountain getaways (13.7%). Among those traveling internationally, major European capitals are the top choice (74.5%). Preferred accommodations include hotels (39.9%), followed by stays with relatives or friends (26.1%), owned properties (18.9%), and bed & breakfasts (9.8%). The average vacation duration is 4.3 days, with most expenditure allocated to meals (28.4%), followed by travel and accommodation (23.9% and 22.7% respectively), with shopping accounting for 11.6%.
Despite the positive outlook, approximately 45% of respondents cited economic reasons for not vacationing. Federalberghi President Bernabò Bocca noted that the majority of holidaymakers opt to stay in Italy, with only a small portion choosing foreign destinations. According to Confindustria Alberghi, the spring season shows promising signs with hotel occupancy exceeding 70%, driven by a significant increase in Italian clientele (+15%) alongside international travelers (+3%). Art cities like Venice and Florence are in high demand, with over 80% occupancy during the April holidays. Meanwhile, Istat warns of over-tourism concerns, citing a 3.4% increase in total tourism for the first two months of 2024, led by foreign visitors (+9.9%) while Italian tourism declined (-2.1%). Istat representatives emphasized the risk of congestion in major tourist destinations. In response, Venice introduces a €5 entrance fee for day-trippers starting April 25th, aimed at alleviating overtourism, with a similar fee hike expected for landing tariffs in Capri.
Source: https://www.avvenire.it/amp/economia/pagine/14-milioni-di-turisti-per-i-ponti-di-primavera
