Torna Sole’s map is the Bridge of the Immaculate Conception. On the one hand, while the uncertainty weighs on the restart of tourism in general, it does not negate the Immaculate Conception. On the occasion of the December 8th celebrations, Italian tourist accommodation is expected to record 4 million overnight stays. An important number, even if many rooms remained empty: the occupancy of the available rooms is actually 62%, 14 points less than in 2018 and the last pre-Covid bridge in 2019, when December 8th was Sunday. The painting comes from the Centro Studi Turistici of Florence for Assoturismo Confesercenti and is based on a survey of online portals dedicated to tourism advertising marketing.
Mouth of Oxygen: Mountain and Sea
Even if the measures taken to contain the increase in infections distance the hypotheses of new further restrictions, the situation in the tourism sector remains very complicated, even if many do not abandon their planned trip for the time being. The best results were obtained for some regions in northern (Piedmont, Aosta Valley, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna) and central Italy (Lazio and Tuscany). For the other regions, the average results are close to 60%, with the exception of Abruzzo, Molise, Basilicata, Calabria and Sicily, which are below this threshold. The largest streams of visitors will be recorded in the cities/art centers – there 7 out of 10 rooms are occupied – but interesting values would also result for the lake and mountain locations. “The uncertainty caused by the return of the Covid emergency is also making itself felt on the domestic market,” explained Vittorio Messina, President of Assoturismo Confesercenti. “Fear of the fourth wave is growing after the arrival of foreign tourists has been blocked or almost blocked” and the shadow of possible restrictions – demand from Italian travelers is also starting to slow down. A blow to the recovery of the sector, which after the good performance of the summer saw an increasing deterioration in the prospects.” A slowdown in the hotel industry, which is increasingly reflecting, also in the face of prices practically halved, such as the Italian federation Confindustria Alberghi and Assohotel, the Association of Confesercenti-Hoteliers. A breath of fresh air could come from the Christmas and New Year holidays in the snow. The structures start their engines for the good prospects for Christmas. A sector that continues to take bookings even on New Year’s Eve. Outside the structures by the sea where events are organized.
Freediving trips abroad
For 2 million Italians who had chosen destinations outside Italy’s borders, holidays were partially ruined by the restrictions imposed by countries because of Covid. No UK for 300,000 Italians who, from 4am on December 7th, will require a negative anti-Covid test upon exit from all travelers to the country, regardless of nationality and vaccination status. Restrictions in the US and Japan. Restrictions, according to Coldiretti/Ixè analysis, causing Italians to postpone bookings and year-end programs and to turn to the domestic market with short-term trips since the Immaculate Conception holiday, with up to 420,000 Italians choosing to stay in one of the 24,000 agritourism establishments in Italy or to visit markets with local products from farmers organized by Campagna Amica along the peninsula. The evolution of infections is forcing last-minute solutions in traditional end-of-year destinations, from major European capitals to more distant destinations such as the United States and The Hague. At the last minute – continues Coldiretti – even trips to our country with numerous strangers. The red tab includes hotels, food, transportation, entertainment, shopping and souvenirs with an estimated $4.1 billion spent on pre-pandemic Christmas and New Year tourism.