Tourism reaches unprecedented levels in 2026, as verified by the Interior Ministry: Calabria leads the way, butSardiniawill also witness an 8.24% rise in visitors, a true surge in international tourists.
Tourism information is primarily gathered through the monitoring of the Interior Ministry’sAlloggiati Web (source in Italian)platform, along with official data from the Ministry of Tourism and Istat.
What do online booking platform occupancy levels reveal about Italy
Italyreaffirms that it remains the top European destination, even for the summer of 2026.
The OTA occupancy rate, that is how fully equipped lodging options are on online platforms, at 51.2%, surpassing rivals like Spain (42.8%) and France (32.9%), whereas the average price (153 euros) is less than in Spain (170) and Greece (195).
Specifically, according to information from theMinistry of Tourism’s Statistics Office, the highest levels of occupancy are noted in Veneto (57.5%), Emilia-Romagna (56.7%) and the autonomous regions of Trento (55.7%) and Bolzano (54.9%).
They are followed by Friuli Venezia Giulia (53.7%), Sicily (53.3%), and Tuscany (52.5%), all exceeding the level ofnational average.
In June and JulyThe occupancy rate rose by 13.4% and 10% respectively when compared to the same period in the previous year.
Travel is not solely focused on the ocean:lake areasindicate the highest rate of occupancy (54%), followed by spa and coastal resorts (each at 51%).
Here growth is almost twice the national average, which is slightly less than 4.5%.
Interior Ministry data confirm that 2026 will be agolden year for tourismin Italy, and especially in Sardinia.
Which areas experienced the highest increase in visitor numbers in 2026
In the first half of 2026 there was a majorincrease in arrivalsnationwide, an increase of 4.43% compared to the same period in 2025.
Below is the list of regions that experienced the highest increases in tourist arrivals in 2026:
- Calabria
- Umbria
- Piedmont
- Sardinia
- Puglia
- Liguria
Calabria (up 10.54%), Umbria (up 9.70%) and Piedmont (up 9.22%) are at the forefront; Sardinia (up 8.24%), Puglia (up 7.43%) and Liguria also show strong results.
International arrivals from other countries have increased by 6.45%(with exceptional performances in Calabria +23.19%, Puglia +14.63%, Abruzzo +14.04%, Molise +13.14%, Basilicata +11.55%, Sardinia +11.44%, Piedmont +10.38%), and local arrivals have increased by 1.97%, with high points in Umbria (+13.64%) and Liguria (+8.89%).
There has been notably substantial increase innon-hotel tourism(+7.46%), whereas hotel amenities have experienced a 2.27% rise.
Why is tourism a key component of Italy’s national economy?
These numbers indicate that, in a world facing global issues, Italy’s tourism industry keeps achieving new highs. The sector is becoming increasingly important and is reinforcing its position as apillar of the country’s economy“The ministry will keep investing and remain optimistic about the future,” says Tourism Minister Gianmarco Mazzi.
‘Italy is at the pinnacle of European travel, a result that acknowledges the beauty of our nation, the strength of our proposal, and the dedication of the entire tourism industry,’ said a pleased Prime MinisterGiorgia Meloni.
My appreciation is extended to the entrepreneurs, employees, and experts in the industry who daily contribute to making Italy alocation that is becoming more appealingand competitive. The government will remain involved in backing an industry that is crucial for our economy and the nation’s development,” the prime minister concluded.
This text was translated using artificial intelligence. Report an issue: [feedback-articles-en@euronews.com].
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