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July 11, 2020 A summer without foreigners on vacation in Italy costs 12 billion to the national tourism system for the lack of expenses in accommodation, food, transport, entertainment, shopping and souvenirs. This is what emerges from an analysis by Coldiretti on the effects of the substantial blocking of arrivals from non-EU countries due to the prohibitions and the persistence of fiduciary isolation and health surveillance while the distrust of citizens from the European Union still remains heavy.

Last year's numbers
Last year, more than 16 million foreign citizens spent their holidays in Italy. The full months as always July, August and September, months that now risk being practically eliminated by the worries and constraints made necessary to face the coronavirus emergency, according to Coldiretti analysis on Bankitalia data.

Italian tourists
"This is a heavy void - says Coldiretti in a note - which unfortunately is not compensated by the 'patriotic turn' of the Italians who for 93% chose to spend their holidays in Italy", the highest percentage at least 10 years according to Coldiretti / Ixe 'analysis which shows that 34 million citizens of the Belpaese have decided to go on vacation for at least a few days in the summer of 2020, with a drop of 13% compared to last year.

Holiday destinations
One Italian out of four this summer has chosen a destination near home, within its region of residence, despite the green light to travel throughout the country and abroad. If the beach remains the preferred destination, proximity tourism grows with the rediscovery of small villages and smaller towns in the Italian countryside, as an alternative to classic tourist destinations. Attendance in large cities collapses. 

Bookings in agritourisms are
rising The vast majority of Italians traveling - observes Coldiretti - have chosen to stay in homes owned by relatives and friends or to rent with hotels in difficulty while encouraging signs arrive for the 24 thousand agritourisms. Immersed in nature, often family-run with few beds, the places where it is easier to guarantee compliance with security measures to defend against contagion outside the home are considered.

Without foreigners damage to typical Italian products
The summer without foreign tourists, as explained in the note, impacts the entire tourist supply chain starting from food, from ice cream to pizzas, from restaurants to bars, which in Italy weighs about 1/3 of the entire holiday budget of tourists for meals but also for the purchase of souvenirs. "To direct damages - adds Coldiretti - indirect ones are added because there is no promotional effect on Made in Italy products abroad with foreign tourists who continue to look for them once they return to their countries of origin, determining a boost to exports national".