Autumn Travel: Destinations and Trends According to Expedia

Domestic tourism will be a trend even for autumn vacations: more than half of the searches made on Expedia travel sites come from Italian travelers.

The data from Expedia reveal some tourist trends for the fall season: the popularity of local tourism is increasing, so much so that more than half of the searches made on the company’s travel sites come from a national audience. Last minute searches are among the most frequent, and the beauties of the Country attract more and more domestic and international tourists: Salento, Rimini, Calabria, Maremma, and Cilento are among the most searched destinations by Italian travelers; Lake Garda, Rome, Venice, Lake Como, and Florence are the preferred destinations for foreign travelers.

Domestic Tourism Grows

Travel in 2020 was undoubtedly driven by the growth of domestic tourism. Many Italians who previously chose foreign destinations for their trips have decided to stay within national borders this year due to the health emergency. Data from Expedia research once again demonstrate the increasing popularity of local tourism even for the autumn season, with more than half of the searches made on the company’s travel sites originating from a domestic audience.

Italy, the fifth most visited country in the world, has undoubtedly suffered from the lack of international travelers during the lockdown period. The good news is that, alongside increased confidence in virus control by the government, the desire of international tourists to travel again is steadily increasing.

But with the end of the summer holidays, what are the trends for the upcoming months, and what are the differences in destinations between national and international tourists? Expedia’s search data provides some initial useful indications for Italian accommodation facilities.

Italians Rediscover the Beautiful Country

Despite a decline in bookings in the first half of 2020 due to strict travel restrictions, travelers’ searches on Expedia Group travel sites for the autumn period showed a significant increase, with an average growth of 15% week over week. It is noteworthy that searches by Italians account for about 65% of the total, and domestic searches have increased by 20% week over week, confirming that Italy is the preferred destination for its citizens during this period of uncertainty.

Last minute searches

Considering the search behaviors of Italian travelers, last minute searches are among the most popular. In July, Expedia Group observed a 200% increase in hotel stay searches for August compared to June. The search volume peaked (with a 170% increase) in the first week of August for stays that same month, compared to the first week of July, further demonstrating the prevalence of “Last Minute” searches and bookings.

Among the top five destinations attracting Italian interest are Salento and generally Puglia, followed by Rimini, Calabria, Maremma, and Cilento, which are completely different from those chosen by international visitors. The seaside resorts of southern Italy undoubtedly attracted the majority of tourists: from the white sands of the hundreds of beaches along the Puglian coast, to the wild beauty of Calabria, and the majestic mountain area of Cilento, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Italy Still a Favorite Destination for International Travelers

The beauty of our country has motivated a good number (35% of the total) of international visitors to search for and plan their autumn vacations in Italy. German tourists (30%) are the most loyal, followed by English (about 20%), Swiss (almost 15%), Americans (10%), and French (10%).

Regarding destinations, Lake Garda is the most preferred, followed by Rome, Venice, Lake Como, and Florence. International travelers are also attracted to the lakes of Northern Italy thanks to their proximity to the border. They are fascinated by Italian art cities, rich in history, characterized by picturesque corners and international scenery.