by SalvoFallica
The TV series’ Golden Globe win has reinvigorated the image of eastern Sicily in the United States, Britain and Australia. The New York Times speaks of “White Lotus Vacation”, searches for hotels in the area have increased by up to 50 percent, and the structure used as a set is already sold out
«Is it time for a White Lotus holiday?». At the end of December, the New York Times wondered if it was time to book a “White Lotus Holiday”. And judging by what’s happening in the areas of eastern Sicily that served as the backdrop for the series – which triumphed at the Golden Globes a few days ago – the answer was a resounding yes. The series – with a cast of the highest caliber including Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham, Jennifer Coolidge and three Italian actresses Sabrina Impacciatore, Beatrice Grannò and Simona Tabasco – captured the striking beauties of Taormina, Catania and Noto (in the Syracuse area ).
Puts
Much of eastern Sicily, from Taormina (in the Messina area) to the baroque south-east, but there are also images of Cefalù and Palermo (western part of the region). At the heart of the story is Taormina, the focal point of the setting, notably the San Domenico Palace, the Four Season Hotel overlooking the Ionian Sea on one side and the great Mount Etna on the other. And this is exactly where the first record-breaking data related to the series is recorded: the rooms in this hotel are already sold out for the whole of 2023. However, articles in the international press – in addition to the NYT, the Guardian and the Australian edition of Traveler – have increased interest in all establishments: according to the travel app Hopper, searches for hotels in Taormina have increased by 50%.
The data
All this must be placed in a context of already positive data in Sicily on tourist arrivals and presence. According to Bankitalia reports, in 2022 in the period January to August 2022 compared to the previous 12 months there were +63.3% of arrivals and +54.9% of attendances on the island. As for the tourist flows in the first eight months of 2022, they were significantly higher than those of the same period a year earlier, both for the national component and especially for the foreign one, which had decreased due to the restrictions linked to the pandemic. In detail, foreigner arrivals increased by 207% while visitor numbers increased by 177%. Despite some limitations and contradictions in the Sicilian region’s tourism policies, and despite the delays in the planning and construction of road infrastructure, the island continues to attract visitors from many parts of the world.
The recording
It’s no coincidence: Sicily is the region of Europe with the most Unesco World Heritage sites, it has a multitude of environmental and landscape assets, an exceptional biodiversity. The “many Sicily”, to use Gesualdo Bufalino’s metaphor, are full of small and medium-sized centers with a multi-thousand-year history that is visible at the archaeological and architectural-monumental level. The same archaeological parks contain not only masterpieces of architectural history, but also wonders of nature between sea and mountains. In 2022, over three million and 300,000 visits were recorded, almost double the million and 700,000 in 2021. The highest peak was recorded precisely in the Naxos-Taormina Park, which includes the archaeological site, the Greek Theater and the Isola Bella performed 844,542 visitors versus 352,484 last year (+139%). The Archaeological Park of Syracuse is also booming with 764,853 entries in 2022 versus 254,713 in 2021 (+200%).
movies and stars
The new film in the Indiana Jones series starring Harrison Ford (who was also fascinated by the beauties of Sicily) was shot in the historical heart of Syracuse. Also very interesting is the baroque phenomenon Noto, one of the first successes of the last decades, which became even more glamorous and international thanks to the fashion shows of Dolce & Gabbana last summer in different places in the Syracuse area. And the global visibility generated by the feast days of the Madonna of the Star between the Syracuse area, the Catania area and Taormina. We mustn’t forget legendary rocker Mick Jagger, who made Sicily his second home and attracted considerable media attention. Television, cinema and music have revived the image of Sicily worldwide, attracting not only tourists and visitors but also people who have decided to buy houses and villas, from Ragusa to the Aeolian Islands, causing the real estate market to grow. The “microcontinent Sicily” always has surprises in store.
January 15, 2023 (change January 15, 2023 | 08:31)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED