Around 88 million foreign tourists spent at least 1 billion euros on ice cream in Italy's top 10 art cities throughout 2024.
The estimate was released last Tuesday (21) by the Assoturismo/Confesercenti Tourism Studies Center, during the event “Beyond flavor, ice cream as an ambassador of Italian tourism”, held at Sigep World, an international exhibition of artisanal ice cream, confectionery, bakery and coffee, ongoing at the Rimini Fair until Wednesday (22).
According to the data, interest in tours and experiences related to the production and tasting of artisanal ice cream also increased: in total, 1,5 million tourists participated in guided tours of ice cream shops, while platforms such as “GetYourGuide” offered around 250 themed experiences.
Furthermore, tourists have also shown interest in trying new flavors with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, even though the fundamental principle of respect for tradition remains.
“Artisanal ice cream is perceived by foreign visitors as a typical and excellent part of Italian gastronomy, synonymous with quality, creativity and authenticity. A true driving force for discovering the specialties of each part of Italy, ice cream is increasingly finding its way into itineraries and excursions,” said Vittorio Messina, president of Assoturismo/Confesercenti. (HANDLE)
