84 percent of tourists will be international and 16 percent Italian. The minister of tourism Daniela Santanchè: “important signals from the data on the summer season. Tourism is a fundamental sector for the growth of the nation”
Italian summer in great shape. According to ENIT estimates on Data Appeal and UNWTO data for the summer period, airport passengers expected in Italy today are at least 1.844.000, of which 84% of international origin and 16% Italian. At least 944 thousand arrivals are expected in June, an increase of +8,6% compared to 2022.
Already the first quarter of 2023 gave the first signs of great growth in flows: between January and March 2023, international tourism increased by +86% compared to the same period in 2022. Around 235 million tourists traveled abroad.
There are around 15 million international travelers in Italy, with an increase of +42,0% on 2022 and a recovery of 87,7% on the same period of 2019.
Italy is chosen above all as a holiday destination (about 30% of travellers) and for work reasons (21,4%). But also to visit relatives and friends (14,6%) and for shopping (11,8%).
71,7% of the flows come from the countries of the European Union, mainly from France and Germany. 18,3% from the non-European area, above all from the United Kingdom.
According to UNWTO estimates, in the first quarter of 2023, international arrivals reach 80% of pre-pandemic levels (-20% on January-March 2019), supported by strong results in Europe (-10%) and the Middle East (+ 15%).
The short-term prospects for international tourism, especially in the months close to the summer season, largely exceed those expressed for 2022. Overall, almost 70% of experts expect higher performances for travel between May and August. 50% expect a better result, while 19% are even more optimistic.
When choosing a holiday, tourists will above all take into account the good value for money, with a more cautious attitude towards spending, and the proximity of the place of leisure to home, favoring short journeys.
Italy is coveted by the Americans. In fact, the USA is the first market of origin, in terms of air passengers, with an incidence of 26,3% on the foreign total forecast for the summer quarter. On the podium also France (6,1%) and Spain (4,7%) which together reach a share of 11%. In the rest of the top ten, among travelers from overseas countries, Australia is also in fifth place (4,1%) and Canada in seventh (3,8%). Followed by Brazil (2,8%), South Korea (1,9%) and Argentina (1,7%). Australians stay on average 25 nights, Argentines almost 20. Canadians spend about 15 nights like Brazilians, while the average stay of Americans in Italy is around 12 nights. The stay of the Koreans lasts just over a week.
You arrive in Italy mainly in pairs. Airline bookings are mainly for 2 passengers (32,3%) and for small groups of 3/5 people (28,3%). Individual travelers represent 27,3%.
80% of international airport arrivals are expected on Rome FCO and Milan, distributed equally.
As for accommodation facilities booked online, they are already saturated by over 40 per cent in June (July 27,9%; August 21,8%). At the moment, the lake sector is the most appreciated for the summer quarter, with an OTA saturation of 36,2%. The seaside product follows with 33,7% and the cities of art with 33,1%. The current level of employment for the mountains (30,2%) and spas (27%) is slightly lower than the overall national average.
"The data for the summer season are very encouraging and highlight the constant growth of the sector which is starting to surpass the numbers of 2019. A sector that is fundamental for the growth of the nation in which the Government is investing heavily" comments the Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè.
“Italy is maintaining very high performance, we will have a luxuriant summer with a return of all international flows and this pushes for ever higher performance in terms of offer and hospitality” declares Ivana Jelinic president and CEO of Enit.