Resilience and the ability to innovate is the way out of the tunnel of the crisis caused by the forced closures for sports centers, gyms and swimming pools imposed by the pandemic for companies in the fitness and wellness sector that are preparing for RiminiWellness, the appointment at the Rimini fair in Italian Exhibition Group from 2 to 5 June.
Twenty million Italians play sports
According to Istat, in the first half of 2021 there were over 20 million Italians who practiced physical activities continuously or occasionally. The percentage has dropped to 34.5% of the population compared to 2020, when it had reached the record of 36.6%. In 2019 we were instead at 35%. The practitioners were mostly adults. The survey notes, in fact, that there has been a sharp decline among children, in particular in the 11-14 age group, down from 68 to 54.8%. The post lockdown recovery also led to a slight reduction in the so-called sedentary workers, which fell from 35.2% in 2020 to 33.7% in 2021. Finally, those with higher educational qualifications do more physical activity: graduates in the 25-44 year-olds are at 58.3% compared to the average figure of 43.4 and, in the 45-64 year-olds, they are at 51 compared to 33.7%.
The post-Covid situation
According to a survey carried out by Anif, the National Association of Sports and Fitness Facilities, the post Covid situation (March 2022 data) shows that 28.4% of the structures – gyms, swimming pools and sports centers – exceed 75% active subscriptions compared to 2019; 39.2% ranges from 50 to 75% of the pre-covid period. Revenues in the first quarter of this year, compared to the first three months of 2019, fell by 50% in half of the centers, by 25% in 34.4%. As for the forecasts, for the next few months the expectations remain marked by prudence. For this reason, almost 70% of the centers have reshaped the subscription formulas, also shortening them on a monthly basis, in order to make them more attractive and convenient for customers.
Fitness professionals
According to data from Fif – the Italian Fitness Federation, in Italy there are approximately 70 thousand fitness instructors proper, that is, those with a degree (degree or diploma). To these are added those who carry out activities as instructors without having a diploma, thus bringing the total estimated number to about 100 thousand units. In gyms and sports facilities, 20.36% of instructors, personal trainers and technicians have a three-year degree in motor science, 6.53% have a specialist degree, 12.06% are an exercise science student, 15.51% do not have a degree, but have nevertheless followed a non-university training course, 27.33% have no degree but have followed more than one non-university training course , 18.21% have never even attended a training course, but make occasional updates.