Once again, and in spite of everything, Italy has reaffirmed its status as a record-breaking destination. This is confirmed by the latest figures from the Ministry of Tourism, which show 72.4 million arrivals and 276 million overnight stays in June, July and August. This means over 5.5 million more overnight stays than in the same period in 2025, which is a 2% increase with an average stay of 3.8 nights. Foreign tourists, particularly in August, booked more and stayed longer in Italy, poating a 4.4% rise in overnight stays and a 2.2% rise in arrivals. “2025 was a record year, but this year is even more so," says the minister for tourism Gianmarco Mazzi.
The occupancy rate for accommodation facilities on major online platforms stands at 61.8% which is 13.8% higher than in 2025. “We are seven percentage points ahead of Spain and 17 ahead of France, but the most striking thing is the trend over these first few days of September which, at 56.2% , places us a full 13 percentage points ahead of Spain and 23 ahead of France,” says Mazzi.
The province of Trento recorded the highest occupancy rate in Italy at 67.3% thanks to the boom in mountain holidays which was also due to the exceptional heatwaves over the three summer months. Next came Sardinia with 67.2%, Friuli-Venezia Giulia with 66.3% and then Sicily and Veneto, both with 65.5%. Small towns and villages, with fewer than 5,000 residents scattered around Italy, were also a great success. With "a 5.6%increase in arrivals compared to last year" and a 4.4% rise in overnight stays, which are "very significant results thanks to the policies implemented to support these areas," added Mazzi While these figures are partly the result of the international crisis, which has prompted many to choose a country considered "safe" and welcoming, there is a downside: the foreign visitors who, for the very same reasons, preferred to spend their holidays at home.
Isabella Cattoni
Journalist
