Ferragosto Tourism Boosts Italy’s Economy with 5 Billion Euro Turnover

Rome: Total tourism turnover for the week of Friday’s Ferragosto mid-August holiday will approach 5 billion euros, the CNA mall-business association said Monday.

According to Ansa News Agency, a survey by CNA Tourism and Commerce shows that due to the weather-after a very hot June, July was temperate-Italian tourists in particular have postponed their vacations, perhaps shortening them, but certainly concentrating them in August, specifically the week between the 11th and the 18th. “Now the hope,” the CNA emphasizes, “is that tourists will decide to extend a season that hasn’t looked exciting so far this year.”

The CNA Tourism and Commerce survey predicts over 5 million tourists in the strict sense, meaning overnight stays, with more than 15 million overnight stays. Compared to the week of August 15th last year, precisely because of the concentration of holidays, there has been an increase in Italian tourists compared to foreign tourists. However, the average number of overnight stays by foreigners remains higher than that of our compatriots.

Among the preferred destinations are seaside resorts, cities and towns of art, and the mountains. Italians favor the sea, while foreigners prefer cities and towns of art. The number of tourists who choose their destinations also based on the food and wine opportunities offered is also increasing.