There are 36.2 million Italians who will spend or have spent a holiday away from home between June and September, including 25.7 million adults and 10.5 million minors. A trip so eagerly anticipated that it is planned one or two months in advance. This emerges from a survey by Federalberghi. 87.6% will choose to remain in the Bel Paese, with seaside destinations and the month of August topping the list of preferences. For those travelling abroad (12.4%), the sea will once again prevail (Croatia, Greece and Spain), followed by major European capitals. The total business volume will amount to 43 billion euros. 48.5% of the population will not take a holiday between June and September. People are staying home mainly due to lack of funds (52.8%), family reasons (25.7%) and health reasons (24.5%). More than a quarter of holidaymakers (28.9%) will take more than one holiday period in addition to the main one: of these, 41.0% will take at least one additional leisure period; 35.2% will take two and 15.1% will take three holiday periods between June and September, confirming the trend, already well established, of splitting the summer holidays into multiple segments.
The main holiday lasts an average of 9.8 days, while any additional holidays beyond the main one will be considerably shorter: 4.2 days.
The flows show 16 million holidaymakers in June, 16.3 million in July, 17.5 million in August and 4.7 million in September. August is thus confirmed, in the eyes of Italians, as the leading month for enjoying a holiday. Italy remains decidedly the preferred destination for the main holiday: 9 out of 10 Italians — 87.6% — will choose to stay in the Bel Paese, while 12.4% will choose foreign destinations, favouring the sea in countries close to Italy (53.0%), major European capitals (19%) and tropical seas or exotic locations (15%). Those who will not cross national borders will, in 75.1% of cases, opt for the seaside, in 13.7% for the mountains, in 4.8% for cultural heritage towns and in 3.4% for lakes.
The holiday will cost overall (including travel, food, accommodation and entertainment) 917 euros per person (approximately 94 euros per day). Additional holidays are more modest in terms of cost: 527 euros in total (approximately 127 euros per day).
Holiday spending is spread across all components of the tourism supply chain. 28.7% of the budget of those going on holiday is allocated to meals (breakfasts, lunches and dinners), 23.4% to accommodation, 21.8% to travel expenses, 11.3% to shopping and 14.8% to all other expenses (entertainment, excursions and day trips).
Among the types of accommodation chosen by Italians for their holidays, the preference goes to hotels and holiday villages (30.6%). This is closely followed by the homes of relatives and friends (28.6%), then privately owned homes (11.9%), B&Bs (7.8%), campsites (6.8%), short-term rentals (5.1%), residence hotels (4.7%) and agriturismos (2.6%).
41.4% will book their stay by contacting the property directly or using its website. 3 out of 4 Italians (74.4%) booked one to two months in advance.
When choosing their holiday destination, Italians are guided primarily by the natural beauty of the location (65.2%); sometimes by the desire to return out of habit to familiar settings (32.7%) or by ease of access (28.2%). In 20.7% of cases, it is the entertainment that the destination offers which influences the choice.
During their holidays, Italians will mainly engage in walking (67.7%), excursions and day trips to explore the local area (51.5%), swimming in the sea, lake, river or pool (47.2%), evenings out with friends (46.2%) and dining at restaurants (45.2%).
Two out of three holidaymakers (64.4%) will use their own car to reach their destination. 25.1% will travel by plane and 3.3% by train.
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