Sticchi Damiani: “sports tourism is synonymous with passion”.
25.11.2023
The president of the ACI speaks at the International Tourism Forum
“Tourism is a founding cornerstone of ACI, we have been promoting it for 118 years in all its forms, aiming, above all, at sport, at the rediscovery of the most hidden territories richest in tradition and charm, without neglecting the food and wine that our country can offer – declared Angelo Sticchi Damiani, president of the Automobile Club of Italy speaking in Baveno on the occasion of the 2023 International Tourism Forum. Sports, then, is synonymous with passion and a fundamental driving force for our economy as it generates numbers important both in terms of attendance and turnover”.
In fact, there are more than 900 races organized during the season, in over 25 ‘four-wheel’ sports disciplines under the guidance of the ACI Sports Council and the ACI Motor Sports Directorate, with the contribution of ACI Sport S.p.A.
We are the only country in the world to be able to boast two Formula 1 Grands Prix and a WRC world event. Just these three events, alone, represent a historical, sporting and economic heritage capable of regenerating itself every year and generating huge economic returns on the territory where they take place and more generally on the entire country system.
Their overall value, in fact, is equal to almost 870 million euros.” The Italian Grand Prix, for example, which takes place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, attracts thousands of enthusiasts from all over the world every year.
Based on the statistics, this year’s edition (no. 94) was a success on and off the track with over 300,000 fans over the race weekend (57% of the public came from foreign countries: United Kingdom United Kingdom, USA, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland), and followed on television by millions of people in Italy and around the world. It generated an impact on the territory of over 143 million euros, 80 million euros in the impact on the Italian production system, 50 million euros in the value of the local brand, 200 million euros in the media, for a total value produced of 473 million euros.
mola is no exception. Last year, the Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna Grand Prix generated an economic benefit for the area amounting to over 274 million euros.
Added to these numbers are those of the Rally Italia Sardegna, the only Italian round of the WRC world championship, which brings together 25 nationalities in a sporting event capable of generating a direct impact of over 90 million euros and an indirect one of 4.4 million euros. A sports product broadcast live all over the world, which reaches over 55 million viewers through the Wrc+ platform and can be seen free-to-air on Rai Sport by virtue of the agreement with ACI.
“Among our latest publications, then, ‘L’Italia del Truffle’ stands out, a volume that traces many tourist itineraries around an Italian gastronomic pearl – continued Sticchi Damiani. ACI promotes tourism also through the protection of the automotive tradition that the world envies us. ACI Storico, which turns 10 this year having been established in 2013, wants to be a non-profit association that pursues the aim of safeguarding, protecting, enhancing and disseminating knowledge of the historical motoring heritage. On the territory as part of the ACI Federation, and? represented by the 98 Automobile Clubs and the 50 Affiliated Clubs that collaborate with the local Automobile Clubs. Among its many programs and activities there is also ‘Wheels in History’, a calendar of events that crosses Italy to help car collectors discover the most fascinating corners and routes of our territory, while at the same time offering car enthusiasts throughout Italy the opportunity to admire up close the most precious pearls of our great automotive tradition. Over 75 events enrich the ‘Wheels in History’ calendar every year and their number is constantly growing: this year alone the increase was 30% higher”.