The tourist presence in Sardinia is growing thanks to foreigners who have now almost reached the Italians in terms of arrivals and presences with growing data while the national movement records a slight decline. It is the first data that emerges from the complete analysis of the 2023 budget recently published by the Sardinia Tourism Observatory. Total presences (arrivals multiplied by days of stay) are sixteen million and 585 thousand with an overall growth compared to 2022 of 2.40 driven by foreigners with an increase of 7.73 percent against a decrease of 2.34 for Italians. A cake that is currently divided almost exactly in half.
Where they come from
At the top of the nationalities of origin are the loyal Germans with over two million presences (almost half in the province of Sassari), albeit with a very slight decline. Followed, at a distance, by the French, the Swiss, the English and the Spanish who are growing significantly (plus 27 percent in attendance) probably thanks to the consolidation of Volotea connections. The growth figure for Americans is also interesting with a 33 percent increase in arrivals. As regards the Italian regions, however, Lombardy remains in the lead but has seen a marked decline while internal movements are growing even with a marked increase in stays (Sardinia is second with a growth of 4.69 percent in presences), decreasing Lazio and Piedmont and Emilia Romagna is growing.
The boom in private accommodation is confirmed again this year (+44 percent) but the data could also be tainted by a certain amount of black market emergence, due to recent regulations. While in hotels there is a slight growth in arrivals and an equally slight decline in attendance, confirming the trend towards shorter holidays.
Where are they going
The Province of Sassari remains the Sardinian territory favored for tourism: the 8 million and 387 thousand visitors represent over fifty percent of the Sardinian total and it is also the favorite of foreigners who represent 56 percent. Half of the 325 thousand beds in the whole of Sardinia are located in the north between the two poles of Gallura and the Coral Riviera. A monstrous offer that has its dark side, occupancy during the year is the lowest. After the province of Sassari (increasing by almost 3 percent) come Nuoro which however records a slight decline, South Sardinia, the metropolitan city of Cagliari which records growth of almost 10 percent followed by Oristano also with numbers positive.
Among the Municipalities, the queen of tourist presences is Alghero with one and a half million and a record growth that exceeds 22 percent followed as always by Arzachena with just over one million and a hundred thousand but a slight decline. Immediately behind are Olbia with 871 thousand presences and Cagliari with 864 thousand, a figure which confirms the growing attractiveness of the cities. Among the top ten are followed by Orosei (in sharp decline), Villasimius, San Teodoro, Budoni, Muravera and Tortolì.
And if Alghero stands out as a single destination, it is Gallura that grinds out the most impressive numbers, only the first four municipalities in the north-east exceed three million and 300 thousand visitors, almost two million Arzachena and Olbia together with the two centers of Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo, capitals of exclusive holidays.
Another interesting data from the Observatory is related to seasonality which shows a hint of a change in trend. The months of July and August show a slight decline while attendance in the spring months of April and May is on the rise. Despite the intermittent connections.