Page last updated: 11 November 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 57.25 million tourists travelled to Italy in 2023.1
- In 2019, Italy recorded 64.51 million international visitors, which dropped to 25.19 million in 2020, a 61% decline.
- Visitor numbers rose to 26.89 million in 2021 and 49.81 million in 2022.
- By 2023, Italy had 57.25 million visitors, a 127% increase from 2020 but 11% below 2019 levels.
How many people visited Italy in 2024?
- Italy welcomed 48.93 million international visitors in from January to August 2024. Note: This is preliminary data and may change with future updates.
| Number of Tourist in Italy 2024 | |
| Month | Visits (in millions) |
| January | 2.13 |
| February | 2.88 |
| March | 3.90 |
| April | 4.81 |
| May | 8.18 |
| June | 8.03 |
| July | 9.92 |
| August | 9.08 |
How many people visited Italy in 2023?
- Italy welcomed 57.3 million international visitors in 2023.
How much do tourists spend in Italy every year?
International tourists spent over $55.9 billion during trips to Italy in 2023.2
- 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 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 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%.
Where do visitors to Italy come from?
The leading sources of foreign tourists to Italy have always been Germany, closely followed by France, Austria, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
- In 2019, 13.95 million German residents visited Italy, outpacing France, which recorded 7.98 million visits.
- Despite the pandemic’s impact causing a drop in numbers, Germany and France held onto the lead throughout 2020 and 2021.3
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.
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 2019, the tourism industry directly employed 2.1 million people, accounting for 8.8% of all employment, and it supported over 218,000 businesses.
How popular is Italy as a tourist destination?
- In 2023, Italy was ranked the fourth most popular tourist destination, with 57.25 million international tourist arrivals.4
The Impact of the Coronavirus – Italy Tourism Statistics 2020 & 2021
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Italy, like many countries worldwide, witnessed a decline in tourist arrivals in 2020 and 2021.
- In 2020, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourist visits fell to a record low of 25.19 million, a 61% decrease and striking contrast to previous years. International tourist spending also dropped sharply, totaling just over EUR 27 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
2019 was a particularly strong year for Italian tourism.
- Domestic travellers in Italy accounted for 220 million overnight stays in 2019, making up 56.4% of the total tourism spend. While international tourists amounted to 216 million overnight stays, with their travel expenses totalling $49.52 billion.5
Italy Travel Resources
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. 6
- 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.
What are the main reasons people visit Italy?
Holidays is the main reason tourists visited Italy, with 29.9 million visits in 2023, accounting for 66% of both international and domestic tourists.6
- 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 2023.
Italy Outbound Tourism Statistics
How many Italians travel overseas?
- Each year, over 20 million Italians travel abroad. In 2022, this number reached 25 million.
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).
