Open-air tourism: summer 2024 on the rise for Italian campsites

According to data collected by FAITA-FederCamping via the Hbenchmark platform, open-air tourism in Italy continues to grow. In 2023, outdoor accommodations recorded over 70 million stays, a number expected to further increase. If weather conditions remain favorable, arrivals should reach 11.4 million (+3.5%) and total stays 71 million (+1.3%).

“The jewel in the crown is the Northeast, but we are witnessing unprecedented expansion and qualitative evolution across Italy,” says Alberto Granzotto, President of FAITA. “This success stems from significant investments and agreements with various entities focused on environmental sustainability, digitalization, and inclusion. These three aspects will also be the focus of the first FAITA Open-Air Forum, a national event to be held in Rome on October 28-29“.

Booking analysis

According to CISET (International Center for Studies on Tourism Economics), as of mid-June, German tourists were the top bookers, followed by Italians, Dutch, Swiss, and French. Forecasts for summer 2024 suggest stability compared to 2023, both in terms of demand and revenue, despite a slight increase in rates.

Popular destinations remain the seaside and mountains, with a notable boom for central and southern Italy, signaling full bookings from the first week of July. Seaside resorts show high occupancy rates, reaching peaks of 90% by mid-July.

Trends

Hbenchmark’s report highlights a clear preference for the sea among Italians (28%) compared to lakes (12%). For German tourists, preferences are nearly equally divided between sea (51%) and lakes (48%).

For August, September, and October, open-air accommodations expect high occupancy rates, with a prevalence of foreign guests who could account for 55% of total arrivals. This trend offers significant opportunities for campsite owners and managers, encouraging continued investment in quality and sustainability to meet tourists’ growing expectations.

AI generated photo by Carlos Bohorquez