Rapid increase in visitors from China.
Although, as mentioned above, in 2014 most “out-of-town” visitors to Italy came from the United States, an almost equal contingent was provided by Russia. No wonder, numerous princes of the former tsarist empire, like the German nobility of the 19th century, were among the early discoverers of the land “where the lemons bloom.” Tourists from China accounted for only about 5 percent of tourists in Italy last year, according to Eurostat. But a rapid increase is on the horizon: Behind the 5 percent is a quadrupling of tourists from China over the past 10 years. If this increase continues – and there is much to suggest that it will – in 15 to 20 years the Chinese will be the largest group of tourists traveling to experience Europe, and Italy in particular, first-hand.
Only those who also know Sicily …
The World Expo in Milan (Expo Milano), which ends tomorrow Saturday, will give statisticians this year a special influx for the north of Italy . But thanks to its splendid beaches and its vast hiking areas and because of the continuous development of the tourist infrastructure through modern vacation villas, through comfortable vacation homes and apartments, the south of the country is also benefiting from the increasing worldwide interest in the Mezzogiorno. No wonder, after all, the highly educated Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had already stated that the key to understanding (of Italy) “lies in Sicily “. (Image : Wikipedia)