ROME (ITALPRESS) – While in general in the post-Covid tourism sector there are the first signs of decline, particularly among Italian tourists, there is one specific category that continues to grow and does so in double digits: it is food and wine tourism. Highlighting this is the “Report on Italian Food and Wine Tourism,” presented this morning in Parma. This new edition, the seventh in the history of the Report, was edited as usual by Roberta Garibaldi, professor at the University of Bergamo and president of the Italian Wine and Food Tourism Association, with the support of Visit Emilia and Valdichiana Living, the sponsorship of Federturismo, Fondazione Qualivita, Iter Vitis Les Chemins de la vigne en Europe, and the collaboration of the University of Bergamo, Economics Living Lab and TheFork.The Report’s data certify that the link between Italians and travel in search of food, wine, oil and all the other typical agri-food products of the Italian territory has been further consolidated. In fact, 70 percent of respondents say they have taken at least one vacation in the past three years with this primary motivation: responses show a +12 percent over 2023 and +49 percent over 2016. And while generalist domestic tourism marked a decline during the last summer season, food and wine tourism did not disappoint, on the contrary: there is a large pool of demand, estimated at 14.5 million potential taste tourists, who mostly opt for domestic destinations (64 percent). The favorite destination among Italians, both for past (39.3%) and future trips (33.9%), is Tuscany; next are Emilia-Romagna and Puglia, which reverse in order if we consider travel intentions. As in past semesters, food and wine are also confirmed among the most desired experiences for European tourists: 15.3 percent of the population of the Old Continent (about 20.6 million potential tourists) plan to deal with them on trips planned for this winter season, regardless of the type of trip (sea, city break, cultural and outdoor). And interest in food-themed destinations and attractions in long-haul markets is also high: in particular, destinations in the Far East (Japan, South Korea, China) and Brazil stand out.-photo Agency Photogram-(ITALPRESS).
