This summer, Lake Garda has experienced a significant increase in Arab tourism, with families and groups mainly from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Dubai flocking to the resorts of Limone and Riva del Garda. Marco Girardi, president of the Garda Lombardia Tourism Consortium, emphasized that this new trend is an unexpected development for the season, with around 90% of Arab tourists staying in four-star hotels and an average stay of at least a week. Interest in the area has been further boosted by events such as Expo Riva Schuh & Gardabags.
At the same time, there has been a 10% decline in the number of German tourists compared to last year, who have traditionally been the largest group. Girardi expressed concerns regarding perceptions of overcrowding and traffic on the Gardesana among German visitors. Nevertheless, the influx of American tourists and those from Eastern Europe partially compensates for this decline. The outlook for the future of tourism on Lake Garda remains positive.
