Already famous in the 800th century for the exile of Napoleon Bonaparte theElba island it has been a favorite destination for Italian and foreign tourists for decades. During the years of the crisis, this Tuscan jewel suffered the downturn in tourism, the real engine of its economy, but in the hot summer of 2015 it seems that a new wind has arrived on the Island of Elba too, that of recovery.
As evidenced by the Confcommercio data Italians are back to travel and, in the 2015 season, they choose above all the local sea. After years of difficulty, tourism is growing again and the Island of Elba has not been found unprepared. According to Massimo De Ferrari – President of the Elba Hoteliers Association – the recovery of tourism on Elba is already a reality: “A survey among the members indicates that from January to June companies recorded a +2-3% compared to 2014 and in July an increase even greater than about 4%. Shipping companies sold tickets for the 2015 season 4-6% more than the previous year. In 2014 – continues De Ferrari – the recovery was linked to the increase in foreign tourism, while this year the growth of Italian tourism is expected”.
And some signs also bode well for 2016: “Congress programs are being redone for 2016, after the last few years in which hotel bookings for congresses had dropped significantly” concludes De Ferrari.
At the Residenza Sant'Anna del Volterraio, a renowned structure in the Gulf of Portoferraio with about 200 apartments, the incidence of foreigners is confirmed as high: in 2014, foreign guests were 7% more than Italians, while in June-July 2015 the he incidence of foreigners has reached 39%. However, it must be considered that these data refer to the period from XNUMXst July to the beginning of August and therefore do not take into consideration the three weeks of the month in which Italian holidays are traditionally concentrated.
Overall, the Residence, which caters to a purely family-oriented clientele, recorded an almost 6% increase in attendance in the period June-July 2015 and expects to close the season in line with these figures.
But how do you explain the greater interest shown by tourists towards the Island of Elba? An initial explanation comes from Laura Bartoli, director of Sant'Anna: “I see a change in sales methods and a more flexible offer on Elba that is pushing the island towards recovery. Much has been done, for example, to lighten the cost of the ferry through reductions and discount vouchers; and the rigidity on reservations that required mass departures and arrivals on Saturdays and Sundays has been removed. Furthermore – continues the director – Elba has done a lot from the point of view of tourism promotion, events have been organized for all tastes: concerts for young people, classical music reviews, initiatives dedicated to children, guided visits to the Elba park, trips to Pianosa and Elbabook, the publishing festival which brought together 26 publishing houses”.
From the analysis of reservations at the Residence Sant'Anna, interesting data also emerges about the ways in which tourists approach accommodation facilities: in 2015 there was a +30% of bookings through online sites and +20% of direct customer bookings on the structure's website compared to -80% of bookings from Italian tour operators.
In summary therefore, in addition to the improvement in the economic situation perceived at national level, the ingredients for Elba's recovery in 2015 are: the greater flexibility of the tourist offer, the numerous initiatives for all tastes and a special focus on the opportunities offered by new technologies . To which is added the indisputable charm of an island that offers paradisiacal beaches, luxuriant nature, good food and archaeological treasures that justify the trip.
