Holiday homes are a market to cherish

Holiday homes in Ticino are an important part of the tourism economy in the Canton, with 62,000 arrivals and 440,000 overnight stays in the year 2016 (latest data available). It is of the utmost importance to identify the expectations of these guests, to improve their experience, build their loyalty, and thus grow this market segment through word-of-mouth. The USI Tourism Observatory (O-Tur) has published its second report on this subject, focusing on the expectations related to hospitality, booking policies, and transportation preferences. The holiday home guests that have taken part in the survey value above all the possibility of contacting the host during their stay (especially senior visitors) and to receive information on the surrounding region and on the activities offered (mainly for families). To book their holidays, almost all guests went directly to the owners or agencies that manage the homes; as for online portals, the report found little awareness of the costs they entail for holiday home owners. Respondents, while reaching Ticino mainly by car, were favorable to the use of free public transport during their stay.

The full O-Tur report Accoglienza, modalità di prenotazione e mobilità dei turisti che soggiorno in case e appartamenti di vacanza ticinesi (Hospitality, booking and mobility of tourists staying in Ticino holiday homes and apartments) is available (in Italian language only) at: www.otur.usi.ch/it/approfondimenti