A strong restart. Tourism could be the strategic sector this summer to allow Italy to get up and make up for lost time. According to initial estimates, it is a real boom for short and medium-term tourist rentals with Sicily by far the most popular destination. Specifically, at the top of this particular ranking are Palermo and Cefalù. Many requests also for Ragusa, Noto and Ortigia.
The rebirth of tourism thanks to vaccines and the arrival of foreign tourists
Stefano Bettanin, president of Property Managers Italia, a residential tourism trade association, explained to Il Corriere della Sera the great development of Cefalù, an authentic tourism hub able to compete with Taormina. Great news for the sector, brought to its knees by the pandemic. The data speak of serious losses in particular for the cities of art with a drop in turnover of 64% (comparing 2019-2020) for Florence, Venice and Rome; while for Milan, again according to a survey by the Otex Observatory, the decrease was 54%. Compared to last summer, however, there is the feeling of a significant reversal thanks above all to vaccines and the return of foreigners.
Bettanin explains that the vaccine factor is fundamental: "Because the numbers tell us that the economic repercussions of a massive vaccination campaign are very concrete. From our portfolio we are taking over many bookings from Great Britain and the USA: it is no coincidence that countries where vaccine doses have been administered to the carpet. And now people, who feel safer, want to travel again".
Puglia favorite destination in the summer by the British
Among the most booked destinations in Italy, in second place is the Puglia. In particular, British tourists are attracted to the region and are booking a lot in Valle d'Itria, headed by Alberobello. "In these areas, the average length of stay is much longer, also because foreigners here find lower prices than in their own countries and a much higher quality of life. - explains Bettanin -. For this reason, both to encourage the restart of tourism and to revitalize many abandoned villages and villages, the government should approve, for example, tax relief for foreign pensioners who come to live with us, a very successful strategy in Portugal.».
What is certain is that the phenomenon of mass tourism will decrease and isolation and large spaces will be sought. For this there is a great return of Chianti and the Crete Senesi, as well as Venezia, Padua, Verona and Vicenza in particular for the characteristic villas in the countryside. The feeling is that tourists are looking for authentic experiences for this reason they aim for the baglio in Sicily or the trullo in Puglia, a quiet place to be with the family. Furthermore, this year the requests are for longer holiday periods, also thanks to the possibility of smart working.
