Page 251 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

228 Europe

Table 15.1 Total number of registered international visitors in all types of accommodation of the Etna Park
Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2007

Arrivals 9010 10,600 15,300 16,775 19,398 23,033 24,329 28,611 31,681
Nights 24,074 32,551 39,644 44,361 56,687 60,048 65,120 71,819 98,235

Duration of stay 2.67 3.07 2.59 2.64 2.92 2.61 2.68 2.51 3.10
Source: AAPIT, 2005; APT, 2009 (also 15.2, 15.3 below)

Table 15.2 Total number of registered national visitors in all types of accommodation of the Etna Park
Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2007
Arrivals 43,274 46,665 51,488 58,719 50,638 49,606 59,801 73,977 81,428
Nights 112,842 118,452 133,658 148,219 139,579 139,790 187,372 216,415 249,115
Duration of stay 2.61 2.54 2.60 2.52 2.76 2.82 3.13 2.93 3.05

Table 15.3 Total number of registered national and international visitors in all types of accommodation of the Etna Park

Year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2007
Arrivals 52,284 57,265 66,788 75,494 70,036 72,639 84,130 102,588 113,109
Nights 136,916 151,003 173,302 192,580 196,266 199,838 252,492 288,234 347,350
Duration of stay 2.62 2.64 2.59 2.55 2.80 2.75 3.00 2.81 3.07

Outside Europe accompanied by a tour guide and interested in
2161 history and culture. The main tourist-flow is from
2.57%
Europe (without Italy) April to October, with a constant peak in August
20524 (AAPIT, 2005). Domestic visitors trigger this peak
24.37% during the holiday period in Italy; foreign guests
Sicily
36302 prefer a trip during spring and autumn (AAPIT,
43.11% 2005). Visitors of foreign origin favour a half-day
or single-day excursion organized by tour
operators (frequently already contained as a part of
a culture package tour round Sicily) or with a
rented car, to get an impression of the important
Italy (without Sicily) characteristics of the area, and the majority
25223 conclude their trip after visiting the biggest points
29.95%
of tourist interest. In addition, the increase of low-
Figure 15.2 Origin of registered visitors to Etna Park
budget flights to Palermo and Catania as well as
the expansion of both airports boosted tourism
million people (Behnke and Struck, 2005). A further. Moreover, Etna’s short distance to
stereotypical tourist is a middle aged holiday- Taormina (30km), as one of the most important
traveller on a round trip booked as a package tour, centres for package-tourism in Sicily contributes a
travelling in a group, arriving in an overland bus, high emergence rate of visitors for one day

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