In 2023, Sardinia confirmed itself among the top five regional destinations in Italy for long vacations (4 days or more). The Island was, in fact, in fifth place also in 2022. As for tourist presences, it is 14th in Italy, with 3.2% of all Italian presences. In the lead is Lazio with 10.2%, Campania with 4.6% and Sicily with 3.7%.

This is what the data from the dossier “Towards summer 2024”, prepared by the Research Office of Confartigianato Sardegna, which reworked the Istat numbers from the past tourist season, say: the 2023 data also say that the presences on the Island were 14 million and 700 thousand, of which 8 million Sardinians and 6 million and 700 thousand from the rest of Italy and foreigners.

"The recovery compared to pre-covid is still slow and the data confirms it - comments Giacomo Meloni, President of Confartigianato Sardegna - but it must be said that times change and the tourist offer evolves based on the requests of travelers. The data also lead us to reflect on how important the deseasonalization and diversification of the offer are - continues Meloni - summer tourism is no longer sufficient to support the economic and social development of our communities . It is essential to aim for a different seasonality of arrivals to also enhance the inland areas. This approach will not only help to distribute tourist flows throughout the year, but will also allow us to discover and promote the beauty and peculiarities of lesser-known territories. Investing in the diversification of the tourist offer means ensuring a more sustainable and prosperous future for the entire sector".
In foreign tourist presence, Sardinia, with 48%, occupies 9th place, with an Italian average of 52.4% . Bolzano opens the ranking with 70.5%, Veneto with 69.3% and Lazio with 63.7%.

"Today the holiday route is changing with the tourist who has a more aware eye and in the search for the favorite destination - continues Meloni - that is, different aspects are taken into account linked not only to the usual locations but also, and above all, to those forms of experiential tourism, informed and respectful of the places". " There is a need to design a new model of tourism development increasingly different from the conventional one - adds Daniele Serra, Regional Secretary of Confartigianato Sardegna - less seasonal and capable of offering services in a combined way at the intersections of the paths of different experiential tourism (connected to the five senses: cultural/artistic, sports, slow/green/wellness, food and wine, spiritual), moving from logistical intermodality to experiential intermodality".

Experiential tourism, in fact, represents an evolution
necessary for a constantly evolving sector. Not just a new way of travelling, but an opportunity to enhance the territories, create new job opportunities and promote sustainable development. An adventure made possible only by the synergy of all the actors in the sector: local authorities, tour operators, communities and travellers. Together, they create an ecosystem of authentic hospitality and
sustainable, respecting the environment and local cultures.

According to the latest ENIT analyses, 75% of the approximately 35 million
Italians who travel say they are driven by unconventional tourism motivations (cultural, sports, food and wine, spiritual and general well-being) that generate significant induced activity, with an average expenditure of around one thousand euros per trip, which can last between 2 and 6 days. A fundamental contribution to the tourism sector of our country, with enormous potential for growth and beneficial effects for those territories not included in the mass tourism circuits.

According to the survey, each unconventional tourism experience, 60% of which occurs in periods other than summer, corresponds to a 5-6 day vacation for which one is willing to travel an average of about 350 km , moving outside the borders of one's own region or those immediately adjacent, and to spend an average of over 850 euros. What emerges is the profile of a traveler who makes multidimensionality his distinctive feature. A tourist, in short, who combines at least 3.5 different experiences a year and repeats these trips several times because he is driven by a multiplicity of motivations.

(Unioneonline/D)

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