A new ISTAT report, released on 17 July and titled “Dal Grand Tour al turismo di massa,” traces Italian tourism trends from 1924 to 2025, revealing that international arrivals have grown from 1.6 million to 65 million annually. While Italy led the EU in overnights until 1995, it now ranks second behind Spain but ahead of France and Germany. The study shows a gradual de-seasonalisation: the share of stays outside June-September rose from 18 % in 1980 to 31 % in 2025, mirroring corporate travel’s rise and digital-nomad inflows. Northern regions capture 56 % of foreign overnights, yet southern regions recorded the fastest post-pandemic recovery at +11 %. For global mobility teams, the findings underscore Italy’s growing ability to host year-round assignments, supported by improved regional airports and high-speed rail links. The report also notes that average length of stay fell from 4.2 to 3.1 nights, indicating a swing toward short, frequent trips—important for managing posted-worker notification thresholds tied to cumulative days. Industry bodies like Federturismo call for simplifying visa issuance for emerging markets to sustain growth, proposing a ‘fast-track business visitor’ scheme aligned with Schengen’s upcoming digital visa platform.
Source: ANSA
