The main drivers of growth are the southern and inland regions. Calabria emerged as the clear leader in growth: +10.54%. It is followed by Umbria (+9.70%), Piedmont (+9.22%), Sardinia (+8.24%), Apulia (+7.43%), and Liguria, according to Euronews, citing the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Tourism.
Foreign tourist arrivals rose by 6.45%, with growth reaching 23.19% in Calabria. Domestic travel increased by 1.97%, with notable spikes in Umbria and Liguria.
Italy also leads in occupancy rates for accommodations booked through online platforms. On average, 51% of rooms are occupied—higher than in Spain (about 43%) and France (about 33%). The average cost of accommodation is 153 euros, remaining lower than that of several competitors.
By region, the highest occupancy rates were recorded in Veneto and Emilia-Romagna—over 55%—as well as in the Alpine and tourist-heavy areas of Trentino-Alto Adige, Tuscany, and Sicily.
The summer season boosted growth: in June, occupancy rose by 13.4%, and in July, by 10% year-over-year.
The structure of demand is shifting: the non-hotel accommodation segment is growing the fastest—by nearly 7.5%—while the hotel sector grew by about 2%. At the same time, the highest occupancy rates are currently being seen not only at seaside resorts but also at lake destinations, where about 54% of properties are occupied—more than at beach and thermal resorts.
Authorities cite the current trends as confirmation of the industry’s resilience. Tourism Minister Gianmarco Mazzi stated that the sector remains a “key pillar of the economy.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted the industry’s contribution to the country’s growing competitiveness. “Italy is at the top of European tourism, and this result confirms the beauty of our country, the quality of our offerings, and the hard work of the entire tourism sector,” she said.
