Director Biondi: “The goal is to see a renewed momentum and a robust recovery but in a better distributed form between the coast and the hinterland”
Tourism between ups and downs at the start of the season. If, at a national level, there have been four truly positive months with a +9.5% compared to 2023, the growth, also confirmed for the summer, seems to be below expectations. As regards Italian destinations, the increase in prices and the decline in purchasing power weigh on demand. This is what emerges from the survey by Assoviaggi Confesercenti, carried out by the Centro Studi Turistici of Florence.
A significant portion of bookings for the summer was recorded in the first four months of the year (therefore well in advance), while a slowdown in demand was evident in the months of May and June.
Unfortunately, there is a decline in interest especially towards the “Mare Italia” product, as well as an increase in requests towards short-haul destinations to contain transport costs, but above all towards nearby destinations, with a competitive offer.
Those who travel, however, often choose abroad. Around 70% of bookings for the summer concern destinations across the border: requests for abroad show an increase of +6.7% compared to the period June-August 2023, compared to a decrease of -3.1% in requests to Italian destinations.
Even in 2024, cruising is among the types of travel that maintains interest among travellers, a fact that can lead to reflection on landing places that could be interesting for this type of tourism. Then the trip to the USA returns.
A general comment on the Maremma comes from the provincial director of Confesercenti Grosseto Andrea Biondi: “After years of unprecedented challenges, the goal is to see a renewed impetus and a robust recovery that can bring the sector back to pre-pandemic levels, and perhaps even beyond, but in a better distributed form between the coast and the hinterland. Some of the companies in the sector are working assiduously to innovate the offer and improve the traveler’s experience and to strengthen collaborations with the food and wine sector, and outdoor experiences, but there are still two Maremmas, which in tourism operate at two speeds. However, we are concerned about the slowdown in bookings in recent months, a signal that in our opinion should be monitored carefully: the risk is that the increase in prices, starting from those of national transport and tourist services but not only, could lead to a contraction in demand”.
Follonica has recently elected the new mayor, Matteo Buoncristiani, and is about to appoint the new municipal council, including the tourism department, which is why Confesercenti wants to dedicate a particular focus to the city of the Gulf, through the testimonies of some associated operators .
Lorenzo Lorenzi, tour operator, owner of the Picasso Viaggi agency, confirms the strong demand for trips abroad. “Italy not much, especially Calabria, Puglia and Sicily. Good Egypt both sea and cruise on the Nile. There is a sustained request for quotes for trips to China, but at the moment without confirmation. Kenya and other safari destinations are doing well, understanding the evolution of demand compared to recent events. Returning among the coveted destinations of the USA”.
“This start of the summer season began with the handbrake on, at the moment there is a slower trend compared to previous years – confirms Pietro Gavazzi, owner of the Hotel Giardino and the bathing establishment of the same name -. Various factors could have affected this slow start to the season, from economic uncertainty linked to ongoing war conflicts, but above all from the adverse meteorological events that characterized the end of April and May, and part of June. Despite a somewhat uncertain start, there are factors that give rise to hope, in fact some surveys show that Tuscany and its sea are among the most requested destinations. We are the second region in Italy in terms of number of blue flags. Another interesting element that should not be underestimated is the desire to give substance to the holiday by combining the sea with the discovery of the area and its history, this interest is confirmed above all by foreign tourists from the main European markets that characterize our area. In this regard, the development of sporting and non-sporting tourism, which looks from the sea to the hinterland, would certainly help Follonica to make itself known, and with it a territory that fascinates for the wild beauty that characterizes it, as well as bringing economic benefits in periods of low season”.
Claudio Pierini, owner of Bagno Roma and provincial president of the Confesercenti Grosseto seaside trade union, declares that for now, observing the start of the season from the beach, it is an “unsummery summer. In May and June we had rainy and often windy weather, which physiologically impacted work, with cancellations, missed bookings and reduced consumption. However, there are several reasons to be optimistic: interest in our territory remains high, requests for information and reservations for the next few months are numerous, and for the month of August (unfortunately also due to coastal erosion and small size of the Follonica beach) many structures are already full, or with few free places. Furthermore, many of the new customers that we have managed to intercept in recent years are continuing to return on a permanent basis, which demonstrates the growing level of services and attractiveness of our area. I am therefore convinced that, weather permitting, summer 2024 could still be a great season.”
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