April 18, 2026
In terms of communication and attractiveness, Italian tourist destinations are today increasingly positioning themselves on the levers of sustainability, in its various interpretations: from minimizing ecological impact, to the conservation of biodiversity and local economic development and respect for cultures and peoples. This growth is based on strategic themes such as the participation of local communities, sustainable tourism planning and management, the economic sustainability of companies, transparency in certification, and also on higher and shared objectives such as environmental education and social equity.
An analysis of some 11,000 posts published on Instagram and Facebook between March and May 2025 by the official channels of territorial tourism promotion bodies in Italy shows how holiday destinations are making use of direct (ecotourism, environmental impact reduction, etc.) and indirect elements of sustainability (use of soft mobility, alternative itineraries, local production, etc.). Out of all the social media content examined sustainability now accounts for an average 13%, a figure that is even higher for destinations in Southern Italy (18%). The leaders in the use of sustainability content are Puglia (23%), Liguria (16%) and Umbria (15%).
Among the most popular themes are how to minimize the tourist's ecological impact (21%) and the conservation of specific biodiversity (20%). These are followed by socio-cultural themes: levers for local development (14%) and respect for local cultures (12%), but also local community participation and environmental education (both 9%) as well as sustainable tourism planning and management (8%). The elements related to companies’ economic sustainability and the transparency of certification mechanisms remain marginal, and the goal of social equity is pursued by only a few.
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN TOURIST BOARDS’ POSTS
Source: ENIT Studies Office based on Extreme data.
The issues of the conservation of biodiversity and the downscaling of ecological impact are relevant in all areas of the country, with a particular focus on the former in Abruzzo (30.7%) and on the latter in Valle d'Aosta (28.6%), while other factors are more localized. For example respect for local cultures emerges in the islands and in Southern Italy (Campania 35.7%) while local economic development is more prevalent in Northern Italy (Piedmont 18.9%).
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN TOURIST BOARDS’S POSTS BY THEME
Source: ENIT Studies Office on Extreme Data
From the social communication analyzed, it can be seen how the posts of the southern Italian regions grant more engagement than the rest of Italy (303.3 average engagement per post) and how the more operational themes of transparency in the certification processes (331.3 average engagement per post) and sustainable tourism planning and management (209.6) are the most effective, followed by ecology, biodiversity conservation (197.7), and impact downscaling (185.4). The cultural and economic enhancement of the territories attracts for the respect for local cultures (180.7), the economic sustainability of businesses (150.4) and local economic development (141.1) such as the participation of local communities in the sector's production and economic processes.
THE AVERAGE ENGAGEMENT IN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF TOURIST BOARDS’ POSTS BY AREA
Source: ENIT Studies Office on Extreme Data
THE AVERAGE ENGAGEMENT IN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF TOURIST BOARDS’ POSTS BY THEME
Source: ENIT Studies Office on Extreme Data
Reflection on this initial analysis of the monitoring of the social communication of Italian destinations is comforting for the concreteness of the themes, for the sharing of sustainability objectives from north to south, and for the ability of some themes to make inroads into the social and economic fabric, as a symptom of widespread sensitivity and execution on the road to sustainability in tourism.
Too often, however, social communication still starts from the broadest and lightest assets to propose itself in the key of a green and regenerative growth of destinations, as if a certain cautiousness in adopting sustainable approaches were a strategy to draw the attention of industry operators and businesses.
It will therefore be necessaryto deepen our engagement, exploring new frontiers in sustainable development strategies. This means moving beyond merely mitigating tourism’s impact, and instead embracing approaches that enhance it, transforming the relationship between tourist and destination, human and environment, humanity and planet into a truly positive one.
Advertorial
Published in Cities & Regions
Delta Air Lines will launch the new route from Seattle to Rome Fiumicino on 7 May 2026.
Four weekly Seattle-Rome flights
The flight will be operated four times a week with an Airbus A330-900neo, making Seattle the sixth destination served by Delta to Fiumicino, after New York-JFK, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit and Minneapolis.
Delta operates most Italian routes to Rome Fiumicino
“Italy is at the heart of Delta's transatlantic development, and Rome is the Italian city to and from which we operate most routes,- said Matteo Curcio, Delta's senior vice president Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India. -We are thrilled to launch the first flight to Rome from the West Coast of the United States, offering an even wider choice of destinations throughout the US, while supporting the local economy and offering more opportunities to American tourists wishing to visit Italy.”
A new Delta One Lunge and Sky Club in Seattle
Over the past decade, Delta has launched flights to 28 new markets from Seattle, and now operates up to 180 daily connections from this airport to more than 60 global destinations. From Seattle, through Delta's global alliances, passengers also have access to hundreds of additional connections in Europe, Asia and Latin America. The airlines most recent investments in Seattle include a new Delta One lounge, a new Sky Club, priority access to 18 gates to support Delta's growing network, and the development of a premium airport experience for all passengers, from arrival to boarding at the gate.
Also a new Seattle-Barcelona
Concurrently with the flight from Rome, Delta announced a new flight from Seattle to Barcelona starting in summer 2026. Delta will not be alone in operating the Seattle-Rome route: in recent days, Alaska Airlines announced its debut on the same route, also from May 2026.
Published in Transportation
The temporary closure of Naples Capodichino Airport to allow for runway resurfacing has been postponed to November 2026.
A decision taken by all airport players
Initially scheduled for between February and March next year, the decision to postpone the work comes after this week’s meeting between ENAC and the involved airport players and was aimed at optimizing the management of the planned works. Previously these had envisaged the diversion of some routes to Salerno airport.
“We have focused on protecting passengers”
“What we have focused on is protecting passengers and limiting the closure days to a minimum,- said ENAC president Pierluigi Di Palma. -We must work in a coordinated manner aimed at safeguarding the right to mobility.”
Reducing the length of the closure
Everyone involved agreed with Enac, which aims to optimize processing times and thus reduce the airport's closure days compared to the 30 days of the second proposal presented by Gesac at the end of June. Thus limiting the inconvenience to passengers by carrying out the works in November 2026. A technical table will be set up between ENAC, ENAV, the airport management and operators. “We all agreed on this solution which limits the days of total closure during the period with the least traffic of the year.”
Salerno and Rome’s airports will provide support
The planned works are radical and concern the runway which will cost some €20 million and will have to be completed on time. Initially the closure days were 42 and the interventions were to be carried out in the period from January to March 2026. It is essential that the airport be ready for the international events coming up for the city - the America's Cup, among others - and airlines have long been asked to review their flight schedules on the basis of specific operational and commercial strategies. The main alternative to Capodichino during the closure period, or at least the closest, will be the Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi airport. This too is managed by GESAC and will be able to absorb a share of passenger traffic. But only a portion of it as up to 12 million passengers revolve around Capodichino. As a result it is inevitable that Rome’s two airports be considered as potential support.
Published in Transportation
Reciprocal premium services for ITA Airways and Lufthansa Group passengers will be available from 1 July.
The new Premium Services will offer many benefits
Thanks to the activation, from 1 July, of these services passengers will be offered a reduction in transfer times, direct access to codeshare flights with Lufthansa Group companies and entry to more than 130 lounges worldwide. The new Premium Services will facilitate passenger travel with benefits such as priority check-in, dedicated transit counters, priority boarding, Fast Track, additional baggage and a free choice of seats on board, available regardless of the airline chosen within the group.
Also for frequent traveller passengers in the loyalty programmes
In addition, Club Plus customers of the Volare programme, departing on flights operated by Lufthansa Group airlines, will be able to benefit from priority booking in the waiting list, additional checked-in baggage, priority check-in and priority in the airport waiting list. And these benefits will also be available to passengers with frequent traveller status in the Miles & More loyalty programme.
“Our goal is to continue to raise service standards”
“The launch of the new services, which are aligned to those offered by Lufthansa Group airlines, represents a concrete step towards an even smoother and more comfortable travel experience for our customers,- said Joerg Eberhart, CEO and managing director of ITA Airways. -These new features are the result of joint work with the Group and further strengthen the path developed since the early stages of our collaboration. Our goal is to continue to raise service standards, making the most of the synergies with our partner, in order to offer passengers even higher levels of connectivity, comfort and quality.”
Sharing of terminals at the airlines' main hubs
All this is in addition to the steps already undertaken to promote the company's harmonization within the Group, including the accumulation of reciprocal points between the Volare and Miles & More loyalty programmes, the sharing of terminals at the airlines' main hubs, and the launch of codeshare flights with the Group's airlines, which have recently added intercontinental flights to Africa, Asia and South America.
Published in Transportation
New rules on what passengers can’t bring onboard, and a look at what could be changing soon regarding carry-on bags in Italy and European countries.
Bans on hot drinks and alcohol
Flying today is a carefully choreographed ballet of rules, rights, and restrictions, and travellers planning to visit Europe this summer need to know there are some new realities they’ll need to digest before their next trip with airlines like easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, or TUI. Airlines in general are ramping up restrictions on what can be brought onboard, not just for safety, but for comfort and compliance too. Hot drinks, like those mega lattes picked up at an airside outlet just before boarding, are a no-go. Any alcohol carried on board must remain unopened and untouched, and thanks to post-Brexit rules, passengers are also barred from bringing meat and dairy products from the UK into the EU…so it’s no to that ham sandwich. 
Crisps, fruit and cereal bars are ok
The reasons for all this are a mix of logic and logistics. Cabin crew aim to reduce the risk of spills, strong odours, and allergens, while keeping the cabin environment as pleasant as possible. It is still possible to bring snacks like crisps, fruit and cereal bars, as long as they are cold, and baby food and milk get special dispensation.
No more charges for carry-on bags?
In another move that will have sweeping repercussions EU lawmakers have backed a reform to eliminate hand luggage fees across all flights within and to the EU. Starting as soon as July 2025 - if the member states agree - passengers will be able to bring a small carry-on bag (up to 7kilos and 100cm) and a personal item like a laptop bag or handbag, free of charge. This move could spell the end of the hefty surcharges by budget airlines just to put a bag in an overhead bin. The reform also includes bans on charging families for seating children under 12 next to their parents, and mandates full price transparency for tickets. The airlines, of course, are far from happy about all this and are warning that what used to be optional services might now be bundled into higher ticket prices for everyone.
Published in Transportation
Milan Bergamo Airport has a new check-in area with 30 new counters.
A new look for passenger terminal departures
This renovation is part of a wider project for the passenger terminal enlargement works involving the departures area. Due to be completed by the beginning of December 2025, the new area dedicated to security checks will be equipped with latest generation radiogenic machines, currently being built on the upper floor above the check-in area.
30 new “self drop bag” counters
In the new check-in area, 30 new check-in counters have been installed, 22 of which in “self drop bag” mode, which allows the independent checking in of hold baggage. There are also eight traditional counters, in addition to the 34 pre-existing counters (28 traditional + 6 self drop bag), for a total of 64.
SACBO has invested €41 million in the works
Above the two lines of check-in counters two high-resolution LED monitors allow better visibility of the flight overview in real time, with indications of departure times and gates, and allow a 30% energy saving compared to the backlit LCD monitors. The entire check-in area is equipped with stereoscopic sensors to monitor waiting times for check-in operations. For the extension of the eastern section of the passenger terminal, which will be completed in December 2025, the SACBO airport management company has invested €41 million of its own financial resources.
“Speeding up operations and guaranteeing safety and precision”
The opening of the new check-in area was matched by the expansion of the hold baggage X-ray control system (BHS) and, at the same time, road and pedestrian access to the terminal was upgraded. "The enlargement of the check-in area marks a milestone in the airport infrastructure upgrading programme, making reception and accessibility comfortable for passengers and at the same time facilitating staff tasks,- says Giovanni Sanga, president of Sacbo. -The new spaces have been designed to support the technological evolution and digital transformation of check-in procedures, speeding up operations and guaranteeing safety and precision. Within six months the new security controls on the upper level will be a further qualitative leap for our airport, consolidating its level of appreciation among passengers and its role in international air transport.”
Published in Transportation
Now it’s Venice’s turn with the debut of the new route from Dallas-Fort Worth to Venice.
12 daily US-Italy flights this summer
This new seasonal route follows the Philadelphia to Milan and Chicago to Naples flights, The Dallas-Venice contributes to the growth of American's Italian network which, during this summer season, will see its largest ever operation in Italy with 12 flights a day between the United States and Italy. The new service from Dallas to Venice - operated by Boeing 777-200 and 787-8 aircraft - is in addition to those from Philadelphia to Venice’s Marco Polo, reintroduced on 29 March.
“An operating schedule of up to two flights a day to Venice”
“This new flight, together with the service from Philadelphia, consolidates American's commitment to fostering stronger connections between the United States and North-Eastern Italy, while strengthening connections from the Veneto region thanks to an operating schedule of up to two flights a day to Venice during the 2025 summer season,” said José A. Freig, vice president international and inflight dining operations of the star-studded carrier.
Connections to other US and to Mexican cities
Camillo Bozzolo, Save Group Aviation development director, added: "With over 900 flights a day, Dallas Airport is the largest hub airport in the United States. The flight from Venice therefore also translates into the possibility of reaching connecting destinations distributed throughout the South-West of the country, as well as 25 cities in Mexico, contributing to the opening of one of the fastest growing tourist markets at present, namely Central and South America".
Published in Transportation
Green, gorgeous and gloriously underrated. Meet Umbria.
Move over Amalfi and Tuscany, there’s a quieter, greener belle in town. London-based CV Villas has declared Umbria, affectionately dubbed Italy’s green heart, as its number one pick for Europe’s Most Underrated Luxury Destination.
Now, granted, Umbria might not have the paparazzi pull of Capri, the grandeur of Rome, or the romance of Venice. But what it lacks in red carpet glitz, it more than makes up for with character, charm, and a lack of selfie-stick-wielding crowds which, let’s face it, is the real luxury these days.
With Florence and Venice packed to the seams this summer, Umbria is looking like a breath of fresh, truffle-scented air with its rich culture, rolling hills and exquisite food and wines. And it has towns like Gubbio, where dramatic Game of Thrones-style buildings cling to the mountainside, Assisi, the spiritual home of St Francis with its deeply calming vibes, and Montefalco, where the views are as heady as the local Sagrantino wine.
But let’s not shout it from the rooftops. Whisper it to your most cherished clients, the ones who appreciate a well-kept secret. Because well… you know what happened to places like Venice, the Cinque Terre and Puglia. So go on, sell Umbria serenity. Just quietly.
Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor
Published in Editorial
American Airlines has a new daily flight from Philadelphia to Milan Malpensa Airport.
Daily direct flights to Milan all summer
Throughout the summer, the route will be served by a daily direct flight, expanding American's network between the United States and Milan, which already includes a daily flight from New York JFK.
“This summer we are operating daily flights to over 120 destinations”
“The launch of the new direct flight between Philadelphia and Milan highlights our continued growth on the Italian market and further strengthens connectivity between the United States and Lombardy,- said José A. Freig, vice president of international and contact centre operations and service recovery for the airline. -Philadelphia, as American Airlines' main hub for transatlantic flights, provides a comprehensive network of connections to major destinations in North America and beyond, operating up to 337 daily flights to over 120 destinations during this summer season."
Malpensa will serve around 200 destinations this summer
“American's decision to introduce this new destination demonstrates the strong appeal of our region and further strengthens the intercontinental connectivity of our airport,- said Luigi Battuello, chief commercial officer of SEAAeroporti di Milano. -The decision to double flights to Malpensa with a second daily flight will offer passengers not only a convenient direct connection between Italy's economic capital and a great historic city, the first capital of the United States, but also the possibility of connecting to Milan, thanks to Philadelphia's large transatlantic hub. In summer 2025 Malpensa will serve around 200 destinations with direct flights, with planned capacity growth by long-haul carriers exceeding 18%, the highest increase among major European airports."
Published in Transportation
For the seventh year running Rome Fiumicino airport has topped ACI Europe's ranking as Europe's best airport, in the category of airports with over 40 million passengers.
Rankings based on excellence and innovation
On the occasion of the association's 35th general assembly, the “Best Airport Awards” went to airports that distinguished themselves for staff excellence, digital transformation, technological innovation and the eco-sustainability of airport infrastructures. The rankings were carried out by an independent jury from the European aviation sector.
Fiumicino named 8th in the world by Skytrax
Rome Fiumicino stood out for its constant search for operational excellence, commitment to the green transition - with the inauguration last January of the largest self-consumption photovoltaic system in a European airport - its data-driven management of airport processes, and consolidation in relations with institutional stakeholders. Rome’s Leonardo da Vinco Fiumicino Airport managed by ADR, a Mundys group company, recently rose to 8th place in the top 10 best airports in the world, drawn up by Skytrax.
Europe’s best airport seven years running
This supremacy consolidates the leadership of Rome Fiumicino as the best airport for the quality of services offered to passengers, awarded last March and uninterruptedly since 2017 by ACI World following the levels of passenger satisfaction recorded in over 350 airports worldwide. ‘With this year's victory, we consolidate a European supremacy that means continuing to maintain those levels of excellence that now also position us at world level,- said the CEO of Aeroporti di Roma Marco Troncone. -We are registering a strong growth in traffic that makes the future promising but which, at the same time, highlights growing challenges for maintaining the levels of capacity and quality. And so we are ready to launch the new €9 billion Airport Development Plan to allow Rome Fiumicino to continue to play a leading role in the sector at a European and world level."
Published in Transportation
Latest articles
Latest Video
Castellabate
Castellabate is a charming hilltop town located in southern …
300Castellabate
Castellabate is a charming hilltop town located in southern …
300- Our Partners -
Welcome to Italy
Italian Blue Route
Italian Blue Route
