Tourism: a record summer, 90 million people on Italy's beaches
Rome - This is an extraordinary year for Italian beach tourism. It is beating all previous records with staggering numbers. Between June and August, beach facilities have recorded 90 M tourists, a 16% increase compared to the 75.6 M of 2016. These are the results of a survey by CNA Balneatori, involving 457 owners of beach facilities who adhere to the Confederation, in 59 Italian coastal locations.Emilia-Romagna is the region that registered the greatest increase compared to last year, a staggering +25%. Closely followed by Puglia (+23%) and Sicily (+22%). Then, in order, Liguria and Sardinia (+19%), Tuscany and Veneto (+18%), Calabria and Campania (+16%), Friuli Venezia Giulia (+15%), Abruzzo and Lazio (+14%), Marche (+13%) and Molise (+10%). During the three months of high season, foreigners accounted for approximately 12% of the tourist on Italian beaches, a 5% increase compared to 2016. On the long weekend leading up to 15 August, they reached 20%: one foreign tourist every five.A defining characteristic of summer 2017 is the significant increase in online bookings, almost 12% of the total in Emilia-Romagna and more than 10% in Sicily, followed by Puglia, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto.The other novelty of this summer is experiential tourism. Holidaymakers no longer settle for just sun and sea. In fact, a third of tourists, in addition to enjoying the beach, chose to explore the surrounding areas, going on excursions, visiting old towns and experiencing in person local activities and traditions.