Foreign travelers are proving to be fundamental for the growth of tourism in Sardinia. Thanks to this presence, in 2023 1,667 billion and 667 million euros entered the “safe” of the Sardinian hospitality and leisure system, an increase of 432 million euros (+35 percent, the second increase in Italy) compared to 2022, when visitors from beyond the Alps brought 1,235 billion and 1 billion and 235 million euros to the island. The spending of foreigners who visited our region increased by 3.2 percent compared to 2022. This is what emerges in brief from the dossier of the Research Office of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna entitled “Towards summer 2024”, which has revised the Istat figures of the past tourist season. “With these data, we can say that last year was the best ever in terms of foreign arrivals and we are sure that in 2024 we will reach the absolute spending record – he comments Giacomo MeloniPresident of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna – after three very long years, foreign tourism is finally back on the rise, restoring arrivals, visitor numbers and purchasing power”. In fact, 48 percent of tourists in Sardinia are represented by foreigners. The island ranks 9th in Italy in a national ranking in which the province of Bolzano leads with 70.5 percent, followed by Veneto with 69.3 percent and Lazio with 63.7 percent, against a national average of 52.4 percent. Last year, foreigners spent 810 million on accommodation, 353 on catering, 200 on shopping, 152 on personal transport and 150 on other services.

The forecasts for this year 2024 speak of a further growth of 9 million compared to the previous year, which should bring the total to 1 billion and 676 million euros, with an impact on the regional GDP of 4.46 percent. The analysis also states that in 2021 813 million euros were received, in 2020 it was 590 million, while in 2019 1 billion and 108 million were received. In total, foreign tourism brings almost 52 billion euros to Italy. “This is proof that the attraction of our country is still very strong and that promotion on foreign markets is fundamental,” continues Meloni. “Our local tourism is once again proving its resilience and ability to be a driving sector for a large part of the economy, but we must continue to support it by also offering services that are increasingly tailored to demand.” “We must never forget that the recovery in visitor numbers compared to the pre-pandemic period – underlines the President – ​​continues to take place in a changed and in any case difficult context for companies, starting with the increased cost of money and the uncertainties of domestic demand generated by the erosion of purchasing power.” “The success of Sardinian tourism will continue,” he adds. Daniele SerraSecretary of the Confartigianato Sardinia – but we must focus on those who come from across the border, especially in the off-peak months. Foreign tourists don’t just love the sea: they want culture and knowledge of the territory, as well as food and wine. Digitization and the development of our structures will allow us to have tourism all year round.”

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