ROME (ITALPRESS) – Warm weather and ‘low season’ rates give a boost to September tourism. For the month, 15 million tourists are expected to arrive at accommodations for a total of 50.2 million overnight stays, 0.6 percent more than in September 2023.
This is estimated by the Center for Tourism Studies for Assoturismo Confesercenti.
A positive trend then, although businesses hope to further improve occupancy rates with undated departure decisions. The most optimistic trends are expected for businesses in art cities (+2.4 percent) and rural and hillside locations (+2.1 percent). Slight growth is also expected for lake (+0.9%) and “other interest” (+0.8%) resorts, while for marine (-0.5%), mountain (-0.6%) and spa (-1.2%) resorts, forecasts are for substantial stability or slight contraction in demand.
This contraction was also felt in the summer quarter, with a below-expected tourist season: according to our estimates, overnight stays between June and August fell by 0.7 percent, for a drop of 1.4 million presences compared to last year.
Italian demand (-2.9%) weighed down, with sharply declining values in seaside (-4.1%), spa (-5.3%) and lake (-3.7%) resorts. In absolute terms, 105.4 million overnight stays by Italians are estimated for the summer quarter, compared to 108.6 million in 2023.
The contraction in domestic demand was registered by all businesses in the tourism supply chain, particularly beach establishments and the restaurant industry. Hospitality establishments also suffered the effects of Italians’ lower spending capacity, which further reduced the length of stays and consequently raised businesses’ operating costs. Overall, the average guest stay fell to 3.9 nights from 4.0 in 2023, but demand for additional services also decreased and interest in accommodations at lower rates to better control the vacation budget increased.
In short, the dynamism of bookings recorded at the beginning of the season hinted at a fairly promising summer quarter, but to date the results would seem to fall short of expectations not only for seaside, mountain and spa tourism locations, but also for destinations not affected by international tourism. That, on the other hand, went well: the increase in foreigners is estimated at +1.6 percent, felt most in the hotel sector (+2.4 percent), but also in complementary facilities (+0.9 percent). In absolute terms, estimated overnight stays rise to over 105.1 million, up from 103.4 million in 2023. This increase, however, is not enough to offset the decline in domestic demand.
The market downturn was felt in all areas of the country, with the exception of accommodations located in the Northwest regions, which reported a value of substantial stability or very slight growth (+0.4 percent), thanks to the increase in foreign tourists (+2.2 percent).
In the Northeast regions, the worst result (-1%) was recorded with a substantial decline in Italians (-2.9%) and despite the increase in foreigners (+0.5%). In the Central regions, the estimated result is -0.8%, driven by a decline in Italians (-3.5%) and a parallel increase in foreigners (+1.9%). For the regions of the South and Islands, the estimate is -0.6 percent: the estimated attendance of Italians is -2.8 percent against an increase in foreigners of +4.1 percent.
– photo Agenzia Fotogramma-
(ITALPRESS)
