New increases in sight for those who spend their holidays by the sea. Prices increase by 7,9% compared to 2023, which had already marked a +12.6% compared to the previous year. However, the number of Italians who choose a seaside summer is decreasing: could it also be due to the expensive beach umbrella?
Italians: -4.4%, prices: +7.9%
The photograph comes from the data, reported by theAnsaof the Panorama Turismo – Mare Italia observatory of Jfc (tourism consultancy and territorial marketing). Out of a total of 407 million tourists in the seaside sector, -1,1% compared to 2023 and -1.2% to 2019, the Italians will be 312 million 511 thousand with a decrease of 4,4%equivalent to a decrease of 14 million 511 thousand compared to last year. Foreigners are increasing reaching 94 million 513 thousand with a +11,6% on 2023 (9 million 823 thousand more).
Meanwhile, it increases for the second consecutive year cost of a beach holiday. Compared to 2022, 20.5% more will be spentwith increases in particular for the catering (+24.5%). For hospitality, bars/ice cream parlors, travel costs, leisure and entertainment and public services, prices increased on average by around 20%. Only beach services are below this threshold, at +16.6%.
Fleeing to Greece, Spain and Albania?
Where will the Italians go? “The answer to this question is the most interesting but certainly not extremely positive for our tourist economy” explains Massimo Feruzzi, head of JFC and the observatory. “From the national level survey it emerges that there is an increase in summer travel by Italiansbut also how the increase in tourist flows refers mainly to foreign seaside destinations, with Greece, Spain and Albania who rule the roost. With a red alert, that of the month of Augustwhich risks no longer being the classic month of ‘Italians’ holidays’: prices are too high, full only from 9 to 18 August and stays are increasingly shorter in this month, with an average duration that is reduced by a good 2.1 nights”.
A. is expected for summer 2024 salesfor the national seaside sector as a whole, equal to 33 billion 191 million euros, stable with a +0,4% compared to the 2023 summer season and an increase of 4.2% compared to the 2019 summer season, therefore in the pre-Covid era.
“It is important to consider”, concludes Feruzzi, “that these increases in turnover are not linear with the increase in holiday prices, meaning that there is, on the part of our fellow citizens and also of foreign guests, a stronger focus on spending“.
Specifically, for the summer of 2024 a turnover is expected divided as follows: that generated by Italian clientele will be 23 billion 707 million with a decrease of 4.2% on the final data for summer 2023 while foreigners will generate one of 9 billion 484 million euros, with an increase of +14.3% on the final data for summer 2023.
