Elena Penazzi, Councilor for Tourism, according to the Region’s data, arrivals in the city in the first quarter of 2024 were 19,172: in line with the same period last year (+0.5%) and up by 3 percentage points on the first quarter of 2019; overnight stays are the same as in 2023, but with a growth of 22% compared to pre-Covid. Satisfied?
“Yes. Especially in foreign overnight stays, which increased by 14.3% over 2023 and 20.6% over 2019. It is a good growth, which underlines how much there is a desire to come to Italy abroad; and in particular to Imola This gives us great confidence for the coming months. I believe it is the most important data of this quarter, it certifies the return to normality after Covid. From here on out we can only improve.”
January-March is an anomalous period for collecting tourism data, particularly in Imola with the Autodromo practically closed for the winter break. The arrivals could be largely due to business trips and travel for religious reasons. But how can we explain the increase in foreigners?
“It’s difficult to say precisely, in some ways I’m surprised too. It’s interesting data, which we will investigate further to understand these flows and try to intercept them even better.”
The impact of the mid-March Duathlon sprint is already quantifiable: 514 arrivals on Friday and 393 on Saturday against a daily average of 211 for the period.
“We expected those, as they were more easily monitored. I remember the difficulties of the athletes in finding rooms in that period. We are talking about many people who in many cases come from outside and sleep here for even two or three nights. The best possible start to season”.
Is the expectation to be close to the big numbers of 2022?
“Let’s say that the numbers that led to the Lamborghini Arena weekends first and then to Wec give us good prospects for the next quarter, considering that the Formula 1 Grand Prix will then arrive in May and that the Tour de France will take place in June. I really think we will have an excellent response.”
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