Tourism is declining on the island: "The high cost of living is slowing vacations."

It's been a peculiar summer in Sardinia for tourism. June went very well, the decline began in July, and the decline continued at the beginning of August. Now, during the hottest week, there's a slight recovery, but at the end of the month—for now—we're back to a low point. An initial summary of this season's overall results shows a 10% decrease in occupancy at accommodation facilities.

Are beaches empty here too, as reported in various Italian regions, with famous testimonials amplifying the controversy over high beach umbrella prices?

"The situation on the island is patchy," notes Francesco Gambella, representative of the ITB (union of beach tourism entrepreneurs). Some beaches are crowded, while others have plenty of free space, but operators aren't willing to be scapegoats: while rates for a spot on the beach have increased compared to last year, the increase is modest, and there are options for all budgets, from €550 a day at Nikki Beach Costa Smeralda (with a €230 credit on the menu) – warns Codacons – to €25 at Poetto or Oristanese.

Of course, overall, everything is expensive; a day out can be a real drain: you can pay, even in less glamorous places, €12 for a salad, €10 for a sandwich, €11.50 for a spritz, €20 for a plate of spaghetti, or €22 for fried calamari and chips. "Prices have risen year after year since the pandemic," emphasizes Martino Di Martino, representative of Assidema (Italian Association of Destination Managers), "but it's primarily transportation costs that eat up a large portion of a vacation budget. It's too early to draw conclusions; ultimately, companies' overall revenues will have to be assessed."