Italy’s tourism industry is entering a new era, combining record visitor demand with a broader range of experiences, from renowned art cities to countryside retreats and increasingly accessible destinations. New figures released in October 2026 point to an industry whose strength is rooted not only in its history, but also in innovation and regional diversity.
According to ISTAT, Italy recorded more than 535 million tourist overnight stays in 2025, including privately managed short-term rentals newly covered by its statistics. Of these, 288 million were in hotels. A century earlier, in 1924, hotels registered just 32 million nights. The international share of overnight stays also expanded dramatically, from 33.6% in 1990 to 55.3% in 2025.
