TOP NEWS

📚 Federturismo Confindustria, supported by Google.org's AI Opportunity Fund, will offer a free AI training course in Italy by 2025/2026. Aimed at 750 tourism professionals, particularly women, NEET, and LGBTQ+ communities, the course comprises five 2-hour modules totaling 10 hours. Participants can choose between in-person or remote learning. Each class accommodates 25-30 participants, with sessions organized until May 2026. For details, contact Federturismo via [email protected].

🏖 In 2022, Nicolas Verderosa founded Ruralis in Avellino, Italy, aiming to promote rural tourism. Italy sees 75% of tourist traffic in just 4% of its area. Ruralis received €1.8 million from the Montagna Italia program to enhance its digital platform. This funding supports advanced technologies, a multifunctional rural hub, and host training. The startup, backed by 88 investors, encourages sustainable tourism and revitalizes local communities through digital innovation.

📝 Il 27 maggio 2025, il TAR del Lazio ha annullato una circolare del Ministero dell’Interno che richiedeva l'identificazione fisica degli ospiti, favorendo il self check-in digitale. La sentenza, sostenuta da FARE, elimina l'obbligo di verifica "de visu" nel Lazio, consentendo soluzioni come Chekin. Tuttavia, gli host devono ancora raccogliere e inviare i dati degli ospiti entro 24 ore. La decisione promuove innovazione e conformità nel settore alberghiero.

📈 Alessandro Onorato, the councilor for major events in Rome, highlights the city's evolving infrastructure and brand value on par with Paris. This week, Dior hosted a show, and Dolce & Gabbana are scheduled for July. Four Seasons plans a €300 million luxury hotel investment in Rome. Despite having a third of Milan's five-star beds three years ago, Rome will boost its capacity by 40% in two years.

🌎 2023, Italy: 67.7 million "on the road" tourists are spending nearly €100 daily, mostly on local foods. Ergo's study highlights that 72% of camper travelers explore small Italian towns, reducing emissions by 30% versus car and hotel stays. In 2025, outdoor tourism is expected to grow, with over 38 million foreign visitors (+1% from 2024), generating €4.97 billion directly, and up to €8.85 billion indirectly. Italy's agro-food exports boost tourism from Germany (15.4%), USA (11%), France (11%), and UK (6.8%).

🗓 UniCredit, Convention Bureau Napoli, and Federturismo Confindustria sign a protocol to boost congress tourism in Southern Italy. ICCA 2024 ranks Italy second globally with 635 international congresses, an increase of 82 from 2023, trailing only the U.S. with 709. A permanent working group is established to leverage South Italy’s strengths, focusing on high-spending and congress segments, enhancing transport infrastructure, and promoting sustainability.

📅 15 million Italians will take advantage of the Festa della Repubblica holiday for travel in summer 2025, marking the start of the vacation season. Trips will increase by 5%, according to Federturismo Confindustria. People will choose more affordable, alternative destinations and shorter stays of one or two nights, mostly in hotels. Half of the travelers will visit areas outside their region, with 10% going abroad. Popular choices include the beaches of Puglia and Campania, art cities like Rome, Venice, and Florence, and relaxing spa vacations.

🚩 Gli Stati Uniti hanno aumentato il "travel advisory" per l'Italia da livello 1 a 2 a maggio 2025, avvertendo di esercitare attenzione a causa del terrorismo. Simile avviso è stato emesso per Spagna, Germania e Francia. I potenziali obiettivi includono attrazioni turistiche e siti pubblici. Il Dipartimento di Stato consiglia di essere vigili e iscriversi al programma “Step”. Prefetto Tagliente sottolinea l'alta attenzione delle istituzioni italiane con un avanzato sistema di sicurezza nazionale.

💵 Federalberghi and Hotrec, supported by hotel associations from 25 European countries, launched a pan-European legal action against Booking.com following a European Court of Justice ruling on September 19, 2024. The court found Booking.com's rate parity clauses violated EU competition law, disadvantaging Italian hotels. Hotels can claim compensation for financial losses and commissions from 2004 to 2024. Registration is open until July 31, 2025, on www.mybookingclaim.com.

📅 2024 saw a 44.6% increase in Chinese tourism, with 176,000 travelers visiting Italy, a 24.7% rise from 2023. They spent €226.6 million (+10.2%) and had 2.4 million nights (+14.1%). From January to April 2025, airport arrivals grew by 2.2%, totaling 67,680. Most visitors (96.3%) came for tourism, with 37.9% staying 4-7 nights. Group tours of 10 people make up 36.8% of visits. Summer 2025 projects a 27% rise in arrivals.