Also in summer 2024, Sardinia will be the favorite Italian destination for holidaymakers, at the top of the ranking of the most popular destinations together with Puglia and Sicily.
This is what emerges from an analysis commissioned by Assoviaggi Confesercenti to the Tourist Studies Center of Florence which interviewed 671 travel agencies.
After the major islands and the "heel of Italy", the favorite regions to spend holidays are Tuscany, Campania, Trentino Alto Adige and Emilia Romagna , while as regards abroad, in addition to the "usual" Greece, Spain and Egypt , this year the United States, Japan and the Caribbean have “awakened”.
According to the survey, between June and August approximately 4 million Italians will travel thanks to the services of travel agencies, for an overall increase in bookings of +3.5% compared to summer 2023 . A growing result, even if the excellent results of the first four months of the year (+9.5% on 2023) were followed by a period of slowdown, below the expectations of organized tourism companies.
Furthermore, even in 2024, many will choose to go on a cruise, a type of trip which - underlines the survey - maintains interest among travellers.
There is also a strong increase in requests for "tailor made" trips , i.e. carefully packaged based on travellers' times and interests thanks to the professional skills of the agencies.
As mentioned, intercontinental trips and those to seaside resorts in Mediterranean countries are slightly increasing.
Finally, a strong growth in interest has been recorded for group trips: in particular, for organized trips which also allow those who leave alone - a request that comes mainly from female travelers - to join a small group accompanied by an expert in destination.
«We are confident that 2024 can represent a decisive turning point for companies operating in the organized tourism sector», comments Gianni Rebecchi, president of Assoviaggi Confesercenti. “After years of unprecedented challenges, the goal is to see renewed momentum and a robust recovery that can bring the sector back to pre-pandemic levels, and perhaps even beyond.”
(Unioneonline)