(Feb 28) – Nine Italian regions are preparing to participate the 46th edition of the ITB, which will be held in Berlin from March 7th to 11st. A major event promoted by ENIT, the Italian National Tourism Agency. Among the exhibitors the City of Rome, along with numerous private operators. “The German tourism is one of our principal source of foreign clients – states Paolo Rubini, Director General of ENIT – for the volume of arrivals, that reached 9.3 millions in 2010, on a total of 43.7 millions international arrivals. This is also due to the increase of flights by airlines such as Lufthansa, who last summer has introduced three new destinations (Genoa, Palermo and Olbia) and provides new routes in 2012, including Bari and Catania, or Germanwings , which offers five new destinations, such as Bari, Pisa, Catania, Naples and Cagliari. A novelty – Rubini continues – also in terms of rail transport: the division ‘vehicles carried on’ of the Deutsche Bahn (DB Autozug), which has four terminals on the Italian territory, has triggered another link between Berlin and Alessandria. This in line with the ENIT strategy of product innovation, with attention to new markets and destinations”. (Red /Peg)
TRAVEL AND HOLIDAYS IN ITALY AND ABROAD
In 2011, overnight trips in Italy and abroad were 83.5 millions, for a total of 532.5 million nights. Compared to 2010, there was a decrease of trips (-16.5%) and number of nights (-15.1%), while the average length of trips (6.4 nights) remains the same. According to ISTAT, short-and long holidays went down (-19.5% and -14.9%), as work travel (-13.1%). In terms of overnight stays, the reduction is less evident both for short (-17.1%) and long (-15.3%) holidays, while overnight stays on business trips remain stable. Compared to 2010, we observe a reduction in the number of people on holiday in a quarter (from 27% in 2010 to 23.6% in 2011), which has affected all areas of the country, but mostly residents in the South (from 19.5% in 2010 to 15.3% in 2011). In 2011 – according to the survey from the National Institute of Statistics – the average duration of holiday and work travel remains stable, with an average of 6.8 and 3.4 nights. In summer there is also a reduction in the number of tourists (-8.8%). The 81,7% of all travel is destined to Italy, with a reduction of 16.5%). The abroad trips decrease (-16.6%), especially those directed towards countries outside the European Union.
