The Italy faith-based tourism market is estimated to be valued at USD 72 Million in 2022 and exhibit growth at a CAGR of 9.8% from 2022 to 2032. The share of Italy's faith-based tourism market is approximate 2% - 6% in the global faith-based tourism industry.
| Attributes | Key Statistics |
|---|---|
| Italy Faith-Based Tourism Market Estimated Size (2022) | USD 72 Million |
| Value-based CAGR (2022 to 2032) | 9.8% |
| Collective Value Share: Top Players (2021) | 4% - 9% |
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The Italy faith-based tourism market exhibited growth at a CAGR of 9.5% in the historical period from 2017 to 2021. In 2017, the tourism sector accounted for 13.0 percent of the GDP and employed nearly 14.7 percent of the workforce.
In 2018, the tourism sector directly employed about 2.0 million people, accounting for 8.3 percent of the total employment. Italy attracts tens of millions of visitors from all over the world each year due to its 7600 kilometers of coastline and location on the Mediterranean Sea.
Citizens of northern European countries, in particular, are attracted to Italy owing to its serene atmosphere and religious tourist destinations. Rising disposable income and the need to travel to ancient religious places are expected to push growth in the spiritual tourism industry in Italy during the forecast period.
Presence of the Italian Catholic Church
The majority of Italy's cultural legacy consists of sanctuaries, churches, monuments, and symbols of popular art, devotion, and piety. The general inventory of the Italian Catholic heritage includes more than 64,000 monuments and other properties classified as ‘houses of worship,’ as well as more than 4 million historic and artistic heritage objects.
The Catholic Church represents 93% of all Christians in Italy. Vatican City is located within Italian territory and will have a significant impact on the expansion of the Catholic Church in the country.
Besides, the presence of headquarters of various Catholic groups, including Dominicans, Benedictines, Franciscans, Jesuits, Redemptorists, Silesians, and Divine Word Missionaries, especially in Rome, is set to drive the market.
The Emergence of New Religious Attractions
Owing to its rich cultural and regional customs, Italy is considered to be one of the most famous tourist destinations in Europe. Pilgrimages and visits to the Marian shrine have increased significantly in recent years in Italy.
A considerable number of tourists visit churches, cathedrals, and shrines, as well as attend religious-themed festivals and activities. As a result, new religious tourism attractions are sprouting and demand is no longer limited to churches.
Adoption of Social Media for Promotional Activities
The digital revolution, particularly since the advent of mobile devices like tablets & smartphones and the proliferation of Web 2.0, has had a significant influence on the structure of society and the economy in recent years. Social media platforms play an important role in the tourism industry, both in terms of demand and supply.
These are valuable sources of information for tourists, allowing destination owners to socialize and exchange information and opinions with users and potential guests. Using social media to promote remote locations has proved to be a good marketing tactic. Thus, tour operators are expected to use social media platforms to promote and incentivize pilgrimage and religious tourism in Italy.
Principal Consultant
International Travelers to Opt for Spiritual Tourism Packages
By tourist type, the international segment is projected to dominate the Italy faith-based tourism market in the evaluation period. The segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.0% throughout the forecast period, finds FMI.
Italy is the fifth most visited country in terms of foreign tourist arrivals, with 65 million visitors per year, according to ISTAT (2019). Foreign travel spending in Italy increased by 6.2% in 2019, as compared to 2018, thereby surpassing €44 billion. These numbers are projected to grow at a steady pace with the easy availability of flights from various parts of the globe.
Religious Pilgrimage Tourism is Popular Among the Age Group of 36-45 Years
By age group, the 36-45 years segment is expected to lead the Italy faith-based tourism market in the next decade. This group is more likely to visit religious places and is interested in learning about the art, culture, customs, and architecture of a site.
People Prefer Online Booking Platforms to Buy Religious Pilgrimage Tour Packages
In terms of booking channels, the online booking segment is projected to remain at the forefront in the Italy faith-based tourism market and exhibit growth at a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period. Increasing technological awareness among people is set to result in rising penetration of the internet.
With the advent of online booking portals, customers can book their tickets at any time and from any location on the back of their easy-to-use interface and an always-open booking system. The rising number of online travel agents (OTAs) that often target clients with their immersive advertisements and campaigns is also expected to drive growth.
Religious Tour Packages Are Gaining Immense Popularity
Based on tour type, the package travelers segment is anticipated to lead the Italy faith-based tourism market during the evaluation period. Package tours provide tourists with a wide choice of destinations, including customized tours. Package tours also contain unique activities that other types of tours may not have. These include meals, hotels, sightseeing, and transportation facilities.
Key players operating in the Italy faith-based tourism market are focusing on launching customized tour packages to gain a competitive edge. A few other companies are aiming to offer several additional features, including meals, innovative spiritual activities, and accommodation with their packages to attract more tourists.
For instance,
Apart from the well-established tour companies across Italy, there are a large number of new entrants who are delivering unique itineraries to help tourists cover significant religious places across Italy. They are also providing online ticket booking facilities to save tourists from waiting in long queues at counters.
Some of the start-up firms are:
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| Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Projected Market Valuation (2022) | USD 72 Million |
| Value-based CAGR (2022 to 2032) | 9.8% |
| Forecast Period | 2022 to 2032 |
| Historical Data Available for | 2017 to 2021 |
| Market Analysis | Value (USD Million) |
| Key Region Covered | Europe |
| Key Country Covered | Italy |
| Key Segments Covered | Tourism Type, Booking Channel, Tourist Type, Tour Type, Age Group, and Region. |
| Key Companies Profiled | Exodus Travels; Sicily Activities; Italy Travel Company; Hello Florence Tours Travel Srl; Venice Italy Travel; Luxury Rome Tou; Smart Trip; Show Me Italy; Real Italy Travel; LivTours; Argiletum; Italy Customized Srl; Miles & Miles Tours of Rome and Italy; Milan Visitor Center- Zani Viaggi; Michelangelo International Travel; Caf Tour & Travel; Cedars Travel; Through Eternity Tours; Rome Travels; Cosmos |
| Report Coverage | Market forecast, company share analysis, competition intelligence, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Threats analysis, market dynamics and challenges, and strategic growth initiatives |
The Italy faith-based tourism market is expected to reach a valuation of USD 72 Million in 2022.
The launch of new customized tours and the rising influence of social media are the key trends driving sales in the Italy faith-based tourism market.
Leading players operating in the Italy faith-based tourism market are Exodus Travels, Sicily Activities, - Italy Travel Company, Hello Florence Tours Travel Srl, Venice Italy Travel, Luxury Rome Tour, and Smart Trip among others.
Leading players in the Italy faith-based tourism market accounted for approximately 4%-9% of the share in 2021.
1. Executive Summary | Italy Faith-Based Tourism Market 2. Market Introduction 3. Faith-Based Tourism Industry Analysis 4. Italy Faith-Based Tourism Market Dynamics 5. Market Background 6. Categorizing of Italy's Faith-Based Tourism Market, 2021 6.1. Current Market Analysis by Tourism Type 6.1.1. Day Trips & Local Gateways 6.1.2. Museums 6.1.3. Pilgrimages 6.1.4. Religious and Heritage Tours 6.1.5. Others 6.2. Current Market Analysis by Tourist Type 6.2.1. Domestic 6.2.2. International 6.3. Current Market Analysis by Tour Type 6.3.1. Independent Travelers 6.3.2. Tour Groups 6.3.3. Package Travelers 6.4. Current Market Analysis by Consumer Orientation 6.4.1. Men 6.4.2. Women 6.4.3. Children 6.5. Current Market Analysis by Age Group 6.5.1. 15-25 Years 6.5.2. 26-35 Years 6.5.3. 36-45 Years 6.5.4. 46-55 Years 6.5.5. 66-75 Years 6.6. Current Market Analysis by Booking Channel 6.6.1. Phone Booking 6.6.2. Online Booking 6.6.3. In-Person Booking 7. Social Media Sentimental Analysis 7.1. Facebook 7.2. YouTube 7.3. Instagram 7.4. Twitter 7.5. LinkedIn 7.6. Pinterest 7.7. Google+ 7.8. Others 8. Competition Analysis 8.1. Exodus Travels 8.2. Sicily Activities 8.3. Italy Travel Company 8.4. Hello Florence Tours Travel Srl 8.5. Venice Italy Travel 8.6. Luxury Rome Tourism 8.7. Smart Trip 8.8. Show Me Italy 8.9. Real Italy Travel 8.10. LivTours 8.11. Argiletum 8.12. Italy Customized Srl 8.13. Miles & Miles Tours of Rome and Italy 8.14. Milan Visitor Center- Zani Viaggi 8.15. Michelangelo International Travel 8.16. Caf Tour & Travel, Cedars Travel 8.17. Through Eternity Tours 8.18. Rome Travels 8.19. Cosmos 8.20. Others 9. Assumptions and Acronyms Used 10. Research Methodology
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Italy Faith Based Tourism Market
