Christmas markets: tradition or trend?

Despite the difficulties of the Bel Paese’s economic recovery, Italians do not give up the traditional Christmas atmosphere of their Christmas markets. What better way to re-evaluate and highlight their territories to everyone every year, including foreign tourists?

In fact, the latest 2019 statistics show the preponderance of European populations favoring domestic tourism linked to Christmas markets, while the popular destinations of Innsbruck, Vienna and Prague are among the top ten destinations visited internationally.

Furthermore, in the Scandinavian countries, there is a 100% preference in favoring their own territories over those in the rest of Europe: we find the large capitals of Stockholm, Oslo with neighboring regions and the more northern Lapland.

As regards inbound tourism to Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Ireland and the current ‘Brexit-UK’ only occupy positions between the eleventh and twentieth in the international ranking, confirming the importance of domestic tourism in Northern European countries.

The reasons for these results are simple: the Scandinavian climate and high costs! So, certainly, it wouldn’t be a budget or savings holiday, but a medium-higher level one.

As a result, Italians prefer local destinations with weekends that are less expensive and demanding in terms of transport, but be careful, this does not mean that they are of a lower level than the Nordic European ones!

Valle d’Aosta and Trentino Alto Adige are the favorites in Italy with Aosta, Trento and Merano.

Tuscany is climbing the regional rankings, positioning itself fifth, thanks to the promotion of Tyrolean products, events and entertainment, such as the ‘Lego Christmas Village’ in Arezzo, the fourth city in the rankings!

Lombardy is eleventh, even if Milan holds its own with its reputation as a metropolitan city, while the Venetian Verona rises to third place, thanks to its historical-cultural and artistic beauties.