The economic crisis does not stop holidaygoers: 3 Italians out of 10 will leave between Christmas and New Year, reinforcing a trend that saw the doubling of holidaygoers in the last five years. So good news from the survey carried out by Confesercenti-Swg: according to forecasts, 16,558,00, i.e. one million and a half more than 2008 will go on holiday. People will spend 11 billion and 300 million Euros (+ 20%) to satisfy the desire to “unplug” from daily problems during the Christmas holidays.

According to Confesercenti, the recession won’t decrease the number of holidays during Christmas period: they were on average 6 in 2008 and they will be still 6 in 2009 (one day more for students and over 64s). Expenses per person will also grow for the first time since 2005, reaching 683 Euros compared to 593 in 2008 (+15%). Very young people are still under the average, they will spend in fact one third of the general average, whereas those who have children aged between 6 and 13 will spend double. People who want to “escape from home” and want to “enjoy themselves” increase from 21% to 26%, while 56% of Italians (62% in 2008) want to rest and relax. So holidays still represent a “free zone” that does not influence family income. They prefer in fact saving on other expenses.

The most frequent places visited are Italy with Trentino Alto Adige, the favourite region, then Piemonte, which is growing, Lazio, Lombardy, Sicily and Tuscany. One tourist out of five points on Europe (especially 35-44 year old), preferring Austria, Spain, France and Germany.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute