Italy is back at the top of the European destinations of international tourists. During TTG INCONTRI – TTI, the Italian b2b event in the tourist trade, closing last days at Rimini Fiera, Luigi Cabrini, Regional Representative for Europe of the World Tourism Organization, presented a preview of international tourist flows, focussing on Italy’s incoming and outgoing trend.

In spite of all, international economy grew by 4.9% in 2005, and a further increase of 5.1% is expected in 2006. This positive trend led to surprising international results in 2005, also affecting tourism (+5.6% international arrivals all over the world), which the World Tourism Organization expects to continue in 2006, though at a slower pace. The data presented show, between January and April 2006, a growth for Europe of international arrivals of 2.5% compared to 2005, which, in the case of Mediterranean Europe, during those same first four months, hits 4.5%.

Forecasts, also for our country, seem to be positive. Based on the data disclosed by UNWTO in Rimini, Italy rated third among international tourist destinations in 2005 in the Mediterranean area. First for international tourist arrivals last year was France (76 million people), Spain was second (55.6 million), with Italy coming third (36.5 million). Then come Turkey (20.3 million), Greece (14.3 million), Portugal (11.6 million), Croatia (8.5 million), Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. As regards the European turnover of international tourist flows, in 2005 Spain was first ($ 38.5 billion), followed by France ($ 34 billion), Italy ($28.4 billion), Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Croatia, Egypt and Lebanon.

For our country, 2006 is expected to be an interesting year. Italy is starting to be re-discovered: thanks to Turin`s Winter Olympic Games, January and February were positive months for our arrivals, restarting the incoming flow from abroad. Indeed, between January and July 2006, the WTO expects an increase of 10.3% in international arrivals to Italy and of 9.3% of the deriving turnover. Other European tourism indicators also support the positive expectations for 2006: a good economic growth in the Euro Zone, an even stronger currency, many sports and cultural events at world level, a constant expansion of low cost airlines, increasing long terms trips from the USA (+4% departures to Europe until June 2006) and from Asia.

Italy has undergone a positive turnabout. In 2005 and in the first months of 2006 Italy made up the ground it lost in the past years, said Cabrini a growth that should continue throughout the rest of the year, within a perspective growth of flows at world level that also this year should reach 4/5% .