The ANNOTICO Report

Telefono Blu Sos Consumatori says 15 Million, The Milan Observatory estimates 12 Million Italians will go on vacation, But one third vacationing in Italy will be visiting Relatives.

EASTER: 15 MLN ITALIANS TRAVELLING, 2.5 MLN ABROAD

(AGI) - Rome, Italy,
Special service by AGI
On behalf of the Italian Prime Minister's office
March 25, 2005

There will be 15 million Italians on holiday during the Easter bank holiday weekend. In total they will spend four billion euro on journeys, presents, and food. The prediction from Telefono Blu Sos Consumatori, also indicates that 2.5 million will go abroad, in European capitals, the USA and the Far East. For those remaining in Italy, 33 pct will be with relatives or friends, 27 pct in hotels, 18 pct in a holiday home. For travel, 70 pct (12.5 million) go by car, 19 pct (2.5 million) by train, 9 pct (1.4 million) by air. At least for a few days the big cities will become more liveable. More than one million Romans, and one million Milanese are going away. Naples will see 500 thousand leave, 400 thousand from Turin, 300 thousand from Bologna, and 250 each from Florence and Palermo. (AGI)

http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=
200503251548-1123-RT1-CRO-0-NF82&page=
0&id=agionline-eng.italyonline

(AGI) - Milan, March 25 - Special service by AGI
On behalf of the Italian Prime Minister's office

March 25, 2005

The Milan Observatory estimates that 12 million Italians will be on an holiday away from home during Easter break.

1 million of these will travel to familiar foreign destinations such as Cuba, the United States, Mexico and the Red Sea, or European attractions such as Paris, London, Prague, Barcelona and Madrid. Most of these holidays will last one week to ten days, as most people will attempt to return to Italy for the local elections on 4 April.

Another 3 million Italians will spend their Easter break at a hotel, for a 3-4 days long vacation. Most will head for Venice, Florence, Rome or the mountains, whereas some will choose European destinations, but for a shorter stay.

Finally, 8 million vacationers will relocate to their second homes, or at a friend or relative's place. This will definitely save them money. 70pct of them will travel by train, 25pct by car, 5pct by plane. The exodus will be mostly felt in Rome (400,000 departures), Milan (250,000), Turin (100,000), Genoa and Bologna (60,000 each).

"As our figures indicate", said Observatory head Massimo Todisco, "most people will go on a shoestring holiday. More than 65pct won't spend money on hotels or restaurants. This is proof that the country is struggling from an economic point of view", he concluded, "as richer are getting richer, and poorer can't cope".

http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=
200503251756-1221-RT1-CRO-0-NF11&page=
0&id=agionline-eng.oggitalia