Sardinia accelerates foreign tourism

Almost one tourist in two comes from abroad. Time for the first balance sheets and in Sardinia 48% of tourist presences are foreign. A record? No, an incentive to attract more visitors from abroad. In fact, the island is in ninth place in a ranking that sees the province of Bolzano in first place with 70.5% of foreign tourists followed by Veneto with 69.3% and Lazio with 63.7%. The national average is 52.4%. In other words, the hope, the objective is to reach at least the fateful 50% with Italian guests and then continue with the overtaking of incoming, foreign guests. What arrives from abroad is above all a high-spending clientele that fills the 4- and 5-star hotels and resorts of the Costa Smeralda and the island's other coastal resorts. Guests who last year left in the territory the beauty of almost 1.7 billion with a +35% compared to 2022. This is what emerges from the dossier prepared by the Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna Studies Office, 'Towards Summer 2024', which reworked the ISTAT figures for the past tourist season.

'With these figures, we can say that last year was the best ever in terms of foreigners' arrivals and we are certain that in this 2024 we will reach an absolute record in terms of spending,' comments Giacomo Meloni, president of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna. 'After three very long years, foreign tourism has finally returned to its former glory, recovering arrivals, presences, and spending capacity.

In 2023, foreign customers spent 810 million on hospitality, another 353 million on catering, 200 million on shopping, 152 million on transport and 150 million are in the chapter on other services. Forecasts for 2024 speak of a further growth of 9 million on last year, which should bring the total to 1,676 million euros, with an incidence on the regional GDP of 4.46%. The analysis also tells how in 2021 813 million euros came in, in 2020 the millions were 590 and in 2019 1,108 million. In total, foreign tourism brings almost 52 billion to Italy.

"It is proof that the appeal of our land is still very strong and that promotion on foreign markets is fundamental,' Meloni continues. 'Our tourism once again demonstrates its resilience and ability to be a driving sector for a large part of the economy, but we must also continue to support it by offering services that are increasingly in line with demand. Let us never forget that the recovery in attendance compared to the pre-pandemic is continuing to take place in a changed and in any case difficult context for businesses, starting with the increase in the cost of money and the uncertainties of domestic demand generated by the erosion of purchasing power'. For his part, Daniele Serra, secretary of Confartigianato Sardegna adds: 'The success of Sardinian tourism may continue, but we must focus on those arriving from beyond the borders, especially in the shoulder months. Foreign flows do not only love the sea: they want culture and knowledge of the territory and food and wine. The digitisation and evolution of our facilities will allow us to have tourism all year round'.