Top choices for Italians’ August getaways

More than 18 million Italians will take a vacation in August.

This emerges from the focus on Italians’ August holidays by the Confcommercio Tourism Observatory in collaboration with Swg, which forecasts an average spending of 975 euros per person, totaling 17.6 billion euros, CE Report quotes ANSA.

For 26 out of 100 Italians, August means the sea; for 11, the mountains; and for as many, the search for a place immersed in nature.

Following in order are cities and art sites, small villages, countryside destinations, lakes, and cruises.

The majority (68 percent) will vacation in Italy, with 4 out of 10 planning to travel outside their region, while 32 percent will choose foreign destinations and only 1 in 10 will go to non-European countries.

The most popular regions are Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, and Trentino-Alto Adige. Close behind are Sicily, Puglia, Lazio, Liguria, and Campania. However, when considering vacations of 7 days or more, which make up half of August departures, Emilia Romagna and Trentino-Alto Adige remain at the top, followed closely by Sardinia.

For international travel, the top European destinations are Spain, France, and Greece. For long-haul trips, the United States leads.

Of the 20.2 million planned departures in the month, half are trips longer than 7 days, with 59 percent staying in tourist accommodations—over a third (22 percent) in hotels, 15 percent in second homes or with friends and family, and 12 percent in short-term rentals up to 30 days. Long-term rentals and agritourism complete the picture.

Manfred Pinzger, Vice President of Confcommercio in charge of attractiveness and tourism, said:

“The contribution of tourism to our GDP is set to grow, and all the conditions are in place: the confidence index is at its highest in six years, more Italians are traveling in August, and there are good prospects for September as well. We support this recovery with adequate measures.”