Italian summer tourism down: high prices cut Italians’ holidays, attendance down after 2023 boom

Item: "Summer tourism decline in Italy: hopes in last minute bookings"

tl;dr

Despite the very preliminary data, the associations of the sector have registered a drop in the presence of Italians already in the first part of the summer, especially in the center-south, with drops of 20% in Naples, 25% in Sicily and 30/40% in Stromboli. A little better in Liguria (even if they register drops of 5/6%)

The first drops were recorded in July, then in August, when Italian tourists in particular dropped out, partly because they were hit by the long wave of inflation and partly because they were frightened by a fiery climate. In some cases, the arrival of a greater number of foreigners has eased the situation, but has not been able to compensate for the losses. Confindustria Alberghi speaks of a decline: «There are fewer Italians – they confirm – In some destinations, international travellers who are present throughout the year compensate. Here, that deseasonalization that we have always dreamed of is coming and this also helps to alleviate the strong tourist pressure of the past year. The Italians have decreased because they can spend less and also because prices have increased». Domestic tourism is down 1%: the middle class is suffering, reducing their holiday stay, changing the period and sometimes giving up, according to Federturismo (Confindustria). «But – they warn – we are waiting for the last minute».