Number of Italians on Holiday Down for Easter, Home Tourism Offer Preferred During 1 May Holidays

According to the latest Istat (Istituto nazionale di statistica) survey results, announced on 28 May 2008, as many as 50% of Italian families live on less than EUR 1,900 a month. The average Italian income was 4 percent higher in 2000, now it is 9 percent below that of the average resident of »the old« EU. As the Italian purchasing power dropped by 13% over the last seven years, now one of three families face poverty. What is more, 38 percent of Italians said they cannot afford a week's holiday a year.

Easter holidays too felt the effects of the economic crisis and falling standard of living in Italy. According to the National Tourism Survey Institute (istituto Nazionale delle Ricerche Turistiche), 5.8 million Italians went on holiday for Easter this year, which is 20 percent less than the previous year. 73 percent of them never crossed the national borders. With this year's Easter holidays in March, monthly statistics show an increase of 3 million tourists compared to the same month last year. Italians spent a total of EUR 4.2 billion for holidays this March. 60 percent travelled abroad for the holidays and spent an average of 8 days away, with an average spending of EUR 1,377 per person. Average spending for a 4-day holiday in Italy stood at EUR 339.

The favourable calendar during the 1 May holidays contributed to the fact that a large proportion of the 10 million holidaymakers—roughly the same number as last year—combined the 25 April holiday with the 1 May holidays. The majority (77%) spent their holidays in Italy.
The leading foreign destination is France, followed by Spain, England and Switzerland. The most visited non-European destination among Italians is Egypt. 21% of Italians spent their holidays in the most economical way, by staying with friends, and 15% in their own weekend homes. For 3.5 nights in Italy they spent an average of EUR 369, and EUR 1,088 for 6.7 nights abroad. The economical trend is reflected in the increased interest in lower-category accommodation facilities. The largest proportion (64%) of those opting for hotel accommodation stayed at 3-star hotels. Another 4.5 million Italians are expected to travel in the second half of the month.

The first three months of 2008 registered 15.8 million Italian holidaymakers, compared to the 12 million in the same period last year (Easter excluded). Positive results were registered only in February—notably on the back of favourable snow conditions—when holidays were taken by as many as 4.3 million Italians, a million more than last year.

Cultural tourism, at 42%, is still in the forefront, and the least popular motive for holidays is sport (4.7%). Despite crisis, one out of four Italians go on holidays for shopping.

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