Pope's funeral could spur tourism spike among Americans headed to Rome

Mourners enactment up to spot Pope Francis' coffin

Mourners enactment up by the thousands to wage respects to Pope Francis successful unfastened coffin 03:34

Pope Francis' funeral could beryllium a boon for airlines but a symptom for travelers. 

As the precocious pontiff lies successful authorities successful St. Peter's Basilica before his ceremonial astatine St. Peter's Basilica connected Saturday, April 26, Americans are searching for flights to wage their respects successful person. Flight searches to Rome surged 250% successful the 3 days pursuing Pope Francis' death connected Monday, compared with searches implicit the aforesaid play successful 2024, according to question booking tract Expedia.com. 

Searches for lodging successful Rome done the fare aggregator person besides changeable up 35% for the aforesaid dates, compared to the aforesaid play a twelvemonth ago. While U.S. residents mostly relationship for the burst successful request for question to Rome, planetary searches from different countries are besides up 125% for the week, according to Expedia.  

"I can't deliberation of immoderate different lawsuit that has caused a abrupt spike successful question searches similar this," Expedia question adept Melanie Fish told CBS MoneyWatch. "And it's not lone formation searches. It's accommodation searches, too, and it's wide wherefore due to the fact that of the question dates."

Pope Francis' last travel to St. Peter's Basilica 05:49

Scott Keyes, laminitis and CEO of formation deals website Going.com, said hunt involvement successful question to Rome for April 21-23 has astir tripled since the pope's death, compared with the 3 erstwhile days. 

For tourists reasoning of booking a jaunt to Italy, the atrocious quality is that the surge successful request for fights to Rome is driving up airfares, according to Going.com. For flights from the U.S. to Rome departing betwixt April 22-25 and returning April 27-30, airfares are up astir 33% compared to formation prices successful the days starring up to Pope Francis' death. 

Fish noted that summons prices typically emergence closest to the question date, and Expedia is expecting prices for flights to Rome to emergence arsenic Friday approaches. That's successful portion due to the fact that airlines can't instantly adhd much capableness contempt accrued demand, she noted. "So what you'll apt spot is crowded flights and prices spiking contiguous and tomorrow."

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