RINCARI burst for the spring long weekends: they will cost Italians around 10.5% more than last year due to the strong increases in prices and tariffs throughout the tourism and transport sectors, with an increase in spending of a total of 780 million euros in 2023. The calculations are done by Assoutenti, who provides estimates of the expenses that families expect in view of the holidays of April 25th and May 1st.
Precisely on the holidays that will characterize the next two weeks comes a survey from the sector’s trade association Assoviaggi-Confesercenti which for the spring long weekend period records a slight slowdown in the market, in contrast with the other national data: requests for spring long weekends they note a decrease of -2.8% compared to the same period last year. Positive feelings on the trend were expressed by 16.8% of entrepreneurs, against 41.2% indicating stability and 37.8% indicating a decrease. If we exclude bridges, however, the new year starts with a sprint for travel agencies, with a turnover growing by +8.9% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to January-March of last year. Ongoing inflation and geopolitical instability have not discouraged departures, nor have tariff increases which have nevertheless marked an increase of +18% in the last 12 months. But, according to the Confesercenti tourist operators association, the increases cannot rise further. “Attention!!! – warns the president of Assoviaggi, Gianni Rebecchi – In this market phase, we can no longer see further increases in costs on tourist services because they could seriously inhibit growth»
Instead, this is what Assoutenti consumers report. Last year around 17.1 million Italians took a holiday during the Spring long weekends, giving rise to a business worth a total of 7.4 billion euros – explains Assoutenti – Positive numbers which will be replicated in 2024, with millions of citizens who are preparing to spend a few nights away from home between 25 April and 1 May. However, what will weigh on the bridges will be the increases that are affecting the entire tourism sector, and which affect every aspect of holidays: holiday packages, for example, have recorded an increase of +8.2% on an annual basis in the last month, but significant increases also concern hotels which have adjusted their rates by +6.9% and accommodation in other structures (b&bs, holiday homes, etc.) which are up +8.4% on the year.
Prohibitive to travel by plane: national flights increasing by 19.1% compared to 2023, European ones by 16.5%, international flights +7.3%. It won’t be any better for those who choose the train: tickets go up by 8%, while buses and coaches go up by 4%. Those who travel by car will have to deal with the latest increases in fuel prices: petrol and diesel pump prices continue to rise unabated, to the point that green fuel has increased by +8.3% since the beginning of the year, with a full which costs around 7.5 euros more – reports Assoutenti.
«But all the ancillary services are also becoming more expensive, from restaurants which cost 3.8% more than last year to amusement parks (+4%), passing through museums and monuments (+3.7%) – states the President Gabriele Melluso – The Spring long weekends will thus cost Italians around 10.5% more than last year, resulting in a blow of around 780 million euros on those who will be traveling in the next few days, with the same consumption being the case.”
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