Italy Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 20 July 2024

Italy, famous for its historic cities, delicious food, and beautiful landscapes, has always been a top tourist destination for people around the world.

How many tourists visit Italy each year?

Over 71.2 million tourists travelled to Italy in 2024.¹

• In 2019, Italy recorded 64.5 million international visitors, which dropped to 25.2 million in 2020, a 61% decline.

• Visitor numbers rose to 26.9 million in 2021 and 50.5 million in 2022.

• By 2023, Italy had 67.9 million visitors and further increase in 2024, reaching 71.2 million visitors, a 5% increase over 2023, surpassing the 2019 visitors arrival by 10.4%.

How many people visited Italy in 2024?

• In 2024, 71.2 million tourists visited Italy, marking a 5 % increase over the 67.9 million arrivals in 2023. This also pushes visitor numbers 10.4 % above the pre-pandemic peak of 64.5 million in 2019, underscoring Italy’s strong post-COVID recovery and continued growth trajectory.
  
  

How many people visited Italy in 2023?

• Italy welcome 67.9 million visitors in 2023, up 34.5% from 50.5 million in 2022 and 5.3% above the 64.5 million peak of 2019, solidifying its status as a top travel destination.
  

How much do tourists spend in Italy every year?

International tourists spent over $58.7 billion during trips to Italy in 2024, marking a 196% increase from 2020 and 19% higher than 2019 levels.²

• Tourist expenditure in Italy generated $49.5 billion in 2019. International tourism revenue fell to $19.9 billion in 2020 due to travel restrictions and fewer visitor numbers.

• International expenditure rose to $25.0 billion in 2021 and $43.7 billion in 2022.

• In 2023, tourism revenue reached $55.9 billion, marking an 181% increase from 2020 and 13% higher than 2019 levels.

How much did tourists spend in Italy in 2024?

• In 2024, tourism revenue reached $58.7 billion, a 5 % increase over 2023 and 19 % above 2019 levels.
  
  

How much did tourists spend in Italy in 2023?

• Italy generated $55.9 billion in international tourism revenue in 2023. This was an increase of 30% compared to 2022 and exceeded the pre-pandemic expenditure by 14%.
  
  

How much does it cost to visit Italy?

On average, travelers spend about $169 per day in Italy.

• Budget travelers can expect to spend around $91 per day exploring Italy, covering basic lodging, meals, and local transport.
  
• Mid-range travelers typically spend about $229 per day, enjoying comfortable hotels, restaurant meals, and paid activities.
  
• Luxury travelers often budget $574+ per day for upscale accommodations, fine dining, private tours, and premium experiences.
  

Where do visitors to Italy come from?

The leading sources of foreign tourists to Italy have always been Germany, closely followed by the USA, France, United Kingdom, and Austria.

• In 2024, Germany dominated with a 19.0% market share, recording 13.5 million visits

• USA followed with a 10.5% share, contributing 7.5 million visits.

• France held a 7.9% share, with 5.6 million visits.

• The United Kingdom captured 7.0%, totaling 5.0 million visits.

• Austria showed strong interest with a 5.6% share, amounting to 4.0 million visits.

How long do visitors stay in Italy?

• Generally, tourists spend 3 to 4 nights exploring Italy’s popular cities and attractions.
  
• In 2020 and 2021, the average nightly stays increased to 4 nights and 3.9 nights, respectively. However, by 2022, average stays decreased to 3.7 nights.
  

What are the peak tourist months of Italy in 2024?

• July 2024 marked the peak month with 9.9 million visitors, driven by high summer demand and a series of cultural festivals.

• August 2024 attracted 9.1 million visitors, aligning with Italy’s height of summer travel and popular coastal getaways.

• May 2024 saw 8.2 million visitors, boosted by spring holidays and the blooming of Italy’s famed gardens.

• June 2024 recorded 8.0 million visitors, marking the onset of peak season and pre-summer events.

• September 2024 drew 6.9 million visitors, as warm weather lingered into early autumn and urban tourism remained strong.

When is the best time to visit Italy?

The best time to visit Italy is in spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October), when the weather is warm but not scorching, crowds are lighter, and festivals and blossoms are in full swing.

Other great alternatives include:

• Summer (July to August) for vibrant beach life, outdoor concerts and peak festival season (though expect larger crowds and higher prices).

• Winter (December to February) for festive markets, holiday lights in cities like Rome and Florence, and skiing in the Alps and Dolomites.

• Late autumn (November) for off-season rates, tranquil cultural sightseeing, and truffle and wine harvest events in rural regions.
  

Why do people visit Italy?

Holidays the main reason tourists visited Italy, with 29.9 million visits in 2024, accounting for 66% of both international and domestic tourists.

• Visiting friends and relatives is the second most popular reason totalling 10.3 million visits.
  
• Business travel accounts for a 9% portion of visits with 4.1 million visits.
  
• Other personal reasons represent 885,586 visits in 2024.

Economic Impact – Italy Tourism Statistics

• Tourism is a major contributor to the Italian economy translating to 6.2% of the total GVA (EUR 99.9 billion).
  
• In 2024, tourism contributed 11% of total GVA (EUR 223.1 billion), directly supported 3.13 million jobs, and sustained over 218,000 businesses.
  

How popular is Italy as a tourist destination?

• Most UNESCO World Heritage Sites: With 61 sites (55 cultural, 6 natural), Italy tops the world in recognized heritage—icons include the Historic Centres of Rome and Florence, Venice & its Lagoon, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

• In 2023, Italy was ranked the fourth most popular tourist destination, with 57.25 million international tourist arrivals.³
  
  

Italy Travel Resources

The Impact of the Coronavirus – Italy Tourism Statistics 2020 & 2021

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Italy, like many countries worldwide, declined in tourist arrivals in 2020 and 2021.

• In 2020, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourist visits fell by about 61% to 25.19 million. International tourist spending also dropped sharply, totalling just over $19.9 billion.

• Around 26.89 million visits by international tourists were recorded in 2021, a 58.3% drop from 2019. The top source markets in 2021 were Germany (17.1%), France (14.5%), and Austria (9.3%).

Italy Inbound Travel Statistics for 2019 – International & Domestic Tourism

2024 was a particularly strong recovery year for Italian tourism. 

• In 2024, domestic travellers accounted for 60.8 million visits, making up 46% of total visits, while international tourists amounted to 71.2 million visits, representing 54% of total visits.⁴

What are the top destinations to visit in Italy?

• Rome is the leading place to visit in Italy with 25 million foreign visitors annually, known for landmarks like the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Trevi Fountain. ⁵

• Milan Attracts nearly 11 million visitors yearly, famous for its Cathedral and role as a global fashion centre.

• Venice: The city of love and intricate canals, welcomes around 10 million visitors. Its unique charm and artistic heritage make Venice a dream destination for many.

• Florence: As the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence draws about 9 million tourists fascinated by its art, architecture, and the historic Uffizi Gallery.

• Rimini: A favourite for its inviting beaches, Rimini sees 7 million visitors looking for sun, sea, and sand along the Adriatic coast.
  

Italy Outbound Tourism Statistics

How many Italians travel overseas?

• Each year, over 20 million Italians travel abroad. In 2022, this number reached 25 million.
  
• 2024 data for outbound tourism isn’t available yet and will be updated once released.

How much do people from Italy spend abroad?

• Italian tourists visiting other countries spent almost $26.9 billion in 2022.

What countries do Italians travel to?

• The top five outbound destinations were France (5.6 million trips), Spain (3.7 million trips), Germany (3.5 million trips), Austria (2.3 million trips), and Switzerland (1.2 million trips).

---

References

1. UNWTO: Italy Inbound Tourism Arrivals ↩︎
2. UNWTO: Italy Inbound Tourism Receipts ↩︎
3. UNWTO: Inbound Tourism Ranking 2024 ↩︎
4. UNWTO: Tourism Statistics Database ↩︎
5. ISTAT: Tourist Flow in Italy ↩︎