Over 21 million Italians will be
travelling over Easter and the long weekends around Liberation
Day on April 25 and Labour Day on May 1, retail group
Confcommercio said Friday saying the yen for travel had not been
dampened by economic uncertainty linked to US President Donald
Trump's tariffs.
Despite the general uncertainty fueled by the tariffs that risks
influencing not only businesses, but also consumer confidence,
Italians' desire to travel is growing, starting with the
upcoming Easter holidays, followed closely by the spring long
weekends, said the Confcommercio Tourism Observatory in
collaboration with research institute SWG.
Vacation planning is at a more advanced stage than in the same
period last year and the share of those who say they want to
take a trip is clearly increasing.
There will be a total of over 27 million upcoming departures,
considering those who have already planned more than one trip,
taking advantage of the different combinations of long weekends
and vacations).
They will be mainly short-medium term vacations, in the company
of a partner.
Hotels and B&Bs are the preferred accommodations, although some
people will prefer to stay in second homes and/or the homes of
friends and relatives.
There will be a high preference for Italian destinations,
especially seaside resorts and large cities.
Tuscany is the favorite destination for travelers for both short
and long-term vacations, while those who have decided to explore
a foreign destination will mainly go to Spain or France.
"The tourism numbers, in view of Easter and the upcoming long
weekends," explains Manfred Pinzger, vice president of
Confcommercio with responsibility for Tourism, "are encouraging
and confirm a widespread desire to travel, especially within our
country.
"However, in the face of this recovery, we cannot ignore the
concerns related to tariffs which, in addition to generating
uncertainty, are eroding the confidence of families and this
could translate into a slowdown in demand.
"It is essential that the restart is not compromised by
penalizing economic policies.
"We need a strategic vision that protects tourism and market
services which are the 'engine' of growth in our country."
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