Italians do it better! “When was the last time you felt good doing nothing?”

By susanna Casubolo

Our culture always puts productivity in the foreground and does not value “empty time” to the point that we fail to consider it without noise, without activity, without technology or other people. Time is not wasted, time is money, but time is precious even when it is empty, even when it is used for the recovery of our body and mind, to be able to continue practicing our other activities effectively for the rest of the time. This is why our holidays are so important.

A study, conducted in the United States by the Travel Association and Project, found that while 95% of Americans take their vacation time off, more than half do not fully use all of their contracted vacation days. This is because many are “martyrs” of overwork, that is, they think that by working more and more they will have more success, more career, more money, more happiness. But the data show instead that people who go on vacation for less than 10 days a year have a 34.6% chance of getting a promotion or a bonus within a 3-year period. For people who go on vacation for more than 10 days a year, the possibility increases to 65.4%.

This year, planning the holidays has been very difficult, especially due to the anxiety of contagion and the limitations given by the rules to avoid it. But there are those who have not given up doing it and the Italian summer 2020 will be remembered not only for the Covid 19 emergency but also for the rediscovery of "made in Italy" holidays and local tourism, in fact the Italian regions have been chosen as a destination for 93% of Italians, compared to 86% last year. The beach remained the most popular preference, but there was no lack of tourism in the mountains and that in small villages and smaller centers.

According to AvantGrade, the places that recorded a leap in Italian searches on Google for holidays were Gallipoli (+ 300%), the Conero Riviera, the island of Elba, the island of Giglio, the Cinque Terre (+ 200%), Vieste (+ 180%), Finale Ligure (+ 150%), Porto Cesareo, Palinuro and Sperlonga (+ 140%).

Instead of giving up their holidays, in August, 3 out of 4 Italians reviewed their programs and looked for alternative solutions to recharge their body and mind. According to Coldiretti, the holidays were shorter and dedicated to family relaxation. The alternative solutions have seen cuts in the available budget or reduction of the holiday period. One in four Italians preferred a destination close to home, within their region of residence. Many have chosen to re-open second homes owned, or stay at those of friends and family or rent, someone chose camping or camper. Among the favorite leisure activities alongside art, tradition, relaxation and pure fun, the search for local food and wine has become the real added value of “made in Italy” holidays in 2020 with about 1/3 of the budget allocated to food for consumption in the restaurant or for the purchase of souvenirs.

As Coldiretti points out, Italy is a world leader in food and wine tourism, relying on the greenest agriculture in Europe with 305 specialties with a geographical indication recognized at community level and 524 PDO / PGI wines, 5155 traditional regional products surveyed along the Peninsula, leadership in the organic sector with over 60 thousand organic farms and the largest world network of farmers’ markets and farms in Campagna Amica, in addition to the numerous enhancement initiatives such as the wine or oil roads .

The search for "empty time" should become a push to find the best vacation to recharge, going on vacation does not just mean moving to another place, it means shifting attention to what is happening, to loved ones, to what is there. it's around, immerse yourself in what's happening. Being entirely inside what is happening means avoiding distractions, staying in contact with yourself and others without being obsessed with the mobile phone, getting out of the multitasking mode as important for productivity as it is useless for rest, enjoying the present moment and the lived experience . And the Italians seem to have understood the importance of holidays very well, preferring to change their travel habits in order not to give up the fundamental period of "empty time" to recharge their batteries. But we know "Italians do it better".