TOP NEWS

🌍 December 2025 sees over 20 million presences in Italy, up from 19.7 million in 2024 and 18.9 million in 2023. Southern Italy leads in tourism growth, with notable increases in Calabria (+9.4%), Molise (+7.7%), and Puglia (+6.7%). Italy surpasses France (401.3 million) in tourist numbers and challenges Spain (415.6 million). The first nine months show 406 million tourists, with over 55% international. Tourist spending reaches €46.4 billion, up 4.9%.

🚉 Trenitalia and Busitalia are enhancing integrated mobility for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. From February 7 to March 15, 2026, Frecciarossa will operate on weekends to Milano Malpensa with direct links to Venice and Udine. FrecciaLink offers daily connections from January 31 to March 16 to Cortina and Cadore. Regional services expand with 40 daily trips, while Busitalia adds direct routes. Over 50 charter trains, 400 buses daily, and more than 50,000 reserved AV seats are planned.

📊 Liguria's tourism in 2025 saw significant growth. From January to October, visitor numbers reached 19,690,811, marking a 4.41% rise from 2024. October alone experienced a 10% increase, with 1,318,029 visitors. Regional President Marco Bucci and Tourism Councilor Luca Lombardi attribute this to Liguria’s year-round appeal. As the holiday season approaches, expectations are high for full bookings in accommodation facilities.

✈ Verona's Valerio Catullo Airport celebrates reaching 4 million passengers for 2025, outperforming the Italian national growth average. Cristiana Cassinari, a passenger from Trentino, marked this milestone and was awarded a round-trip ticket to Paris. The airport ended 2024 with 3.7 million passengers (+8%) and anticipates a 9% increase in 2025, compared to Italy's average of 5%. Operating 30 airlines to 90 destinations, new routes to Casablanca and Aalborg are expected in 2026.

🏖 Italian tourism is expected to generate over €7 billion during the upcoming Christmas holidays. According to Cna Turismo e Commercio, more than 5 million tourists will stay at least one night in Italian accommodations. Of these, 3.7 million will be Italians, and 1.3 million foreigners from countries like France, Germany, and the USA. Additionally, over 20 million will travel for day trips or to visit friends and family. Popular destinations include art cities and mountain locales.

💸 Ministro del Turismo Daniela Santanchè ha annunciato misure nel testo della Legge di Bilancio approvata in Senato per sostenere l'industria turistica italiana. Dal 1° gennaio al 30 settembre 2026, sarà applicato un trattamento integrativo del 15% sui salari per il lavoro notturno e straordinario, destinato ai lavoratori con redditi sotto 40.000 euro. Stanziati 50 milioni di euro annui per filiere nel triennio 2026-2028 e 250 milioni di euro per lo sviluppo nel 2027, 2029 e 50 milioni nel 2028. Funt rifinanziato con 37,5 milioni di euro ogni anno dal 2026 al 2028.

📅 Il futuro del turismo italiano si concentra su benessere, sostenibilità e spiritualità, supportato dalle istituzioni e dall'Università Europea di Roma. L'Enit evidenzia un turismo spirituale individuale in crescita. Trenitalia, con una rete ferroviaria che copre 1700 destinazioni, promuove la mobilità slow. Si prevede una crescita del 5% annuo nel turismo spirituale e rigenerativo fino al 2030. Le tecnologie digitali facilitano la distribuzione di micro-ospitalità e supportano le economie locali.

📈 In 2024, Italy saw 34% of its population visit museums or exhibitions, totaling over 60 million visits, up from 57.7 million in 2023 and 47 million in 2022. Italy leads with 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 20 intangible cultural heritage elements, and 14 Creative Cities. The country hosts 4,416 museums, monuments, and archaeological areas, with 2,870 being public. These stats reflect continuous cultural engagement and growth in Italy's rich cultural landscape.

🗺 Millennial and Gen Z travelers are booking trips later and increasingly favoring group travel with older generations. By 2024, global leisure travel spending is expected to hit $15.2 trillion, with domestic travel dominating the market. Over 50% of Millennials and Gen Z plan to travel more in 2024, valuing community (71%) and sustainability (75%). The "Silver" segment is active too, with 70% planning to travel by 2026. Post-trip interactions are crucial, with 83% saying they enhance their stay.

📅 2025, Italy, Confindustria's analysis reveals economic challenges: declining exports, weak consumption, and high electricity costs. Tourism, driven by foreign visitors, remains a key economic pillar. Foreign tourist spending is up 5.2% to €57 billion, boosting Italy's positive tourism balance (€23 billion in 2025 from €21 billion in 2024). Tourist arrivals hit 75 million, with a historic peak in overnight stays at 476 million. Prices for hospitality and dining services rise 3.4% compared to overall consumer prices at 1.5%.