Occupancy is 75–80%, with a German influx returning to the Garda Veneto shore at roughly 47%. These are some of the statistics analyzed by the Garda Veneto Tourism Observatory (OTGV) for August 2023, with a focus on the Ferragosto period (on August 15).
The OTGV examined 60 facilities spread around the Garda Veneto shore to evaluate the current tourism situation and its connection to local events. The results that have emerged are optimistic, and in addition to confirming an average length of stay of five days, they provide new information in terms of tourist origin.
New nationalities on the Garda Veneto come mainly from Eastern Europe.
New nationalities tend to stay in the Upper Lake, with Polish visitors accounting for 14.2% and British tourists representing 10.3%. There is also no shortage of Italians during the 2023 summer, with 11.2% choosing Garda Veneto as their vacation destination.
A demand that, as was the case last year, is projected to be driven by the price lever. Several establishments are also giving minimum stays and discounts for last-minute bookings, not only for the Ferragosto season but also for the last two weeks of August. Notably, mid-August average prices are unchanged from last year.
“These data definitively confirm what the 2023 season will be like,” says Ivan de Beni, President of Federalberghi Garda Veneto, “and we have returned to the volumes and rhythms of 2019, that is, the pre-covid period. The optimistic feelings at the start of the season were tainted by the 2022 data, which should be considered a remarkable year for all intents and purposes. August and September are looking promising, and I wouldn’t call it a crisis, but rather a readjusting of our regular market.”
Local events draw both Italian and foreign visitors.
On the lake, Lago di Garda in Love returns this year, from August 10 to 15, with numerous free initiatives in eight municipalities across the Garda region. Malcesine, Brenzone sul Garda, San Zeno di Montagna, Torri del Benaco, Bardolino, Lazise, Castelnuovo del Garda, and Valeggio sul Mincio will host a variety of activities, including the traditional village events that have long drawn visitors to the area.
