(ANSA) – Rome, January 01 – Major European capitals, Paris is clearly in the lead, as is the Red Sea followed by emerging Oman, UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Then the Maldives, Zanzibar and also Thailand. Not forgetting the beloved Canary Islands and, of course, the states with New York as the queen. New Year’s Eve showed that if the majority of Italians have come to terms with the Italian holidays, the young and energetic army that goes abroad is also waking up.
After more than two “fierce” years of stoppage imposed by the pandemic, according to the calculations of Assoviaggi, the association of travel agency companies and tour operators Confesercenti, more than 500,000 citizens spent the last night across the border year. Good news for organized tourism, whose budget for 2022 remains unsatisfactory: the restart concerns, in fact, mainly accommodation facilities, while travel agencies and tour operators have recorded a slower recovery, in a context conditioned by an increase in management costs and prices. Europe remains the most chosen destination by self-employed tourists for its ability to combine culture and entertainment, but the demand for medium and long-term travel is also increasing.
Italians are looking for cultural destinations or postcard beaches—maybe both—for a different last night of the year.
Egypt is making a strong comeback, chosen for the riches of the millennial cultural heritage of the land of the pharaohs, as well as for its seaside resorts. But the entire Middle East region is in growing demand: Oman, which is rich in UNESCO sites and beaches, and the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, whose investment plan in tourism is giving first results. The numbers are still small, because it is a destination for those who can afford it: about 7,000 euros are needed to celebrate the year 2023 in Arabia, whose cultural treasures – such as the Nabataean cities – have always been difficult to access for tourism and anywhere today. The peculiarity of travel is that you are among the first or very few travelers in the world to visit the country.
The Indian Ocean is also full of Italians, mainly the Maldives and Zanzibar, and some of them go back to Thailand. Excellent numbers for the Canary Islands and a wonderful New Year’s return to the US, with New York and Miami favored despite an unfavorable exchange rate. “After more than two years of hiatus, in these holidays there is finally a first return of outbound tourism, directed outside Italy. Difficulties remain: travel prices have risen by 20-30%, and the international situation is not conducive.
But the demand of Italian travelers for some destinations is still seeing a rebound, even if pre-virus levels are still a long way off, ”explains Gianni Rebecchi, President of the Assoviaggi. (ANSA).
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