Italy tops European tourism in 2026: the most visited regions
Record tourism in 2026, confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior: Sardinia is set to see arrivals increase by 8.24%, a real boom in foreign visitors. The tourism figures come mainly from monitoring the...
Record tourism in 2026, confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior: Sardinia is set to see arrivals increase by 8.24%, a real boom in foreign visitors.
The tourism figures come mainly from monitoring the Interior Ministry’s Alloggiati Web (source in Italian) platform, combined with official statistics from the Ministry of Tourism and Istat.
What online hotel occupancy rates tell us about Italy
Italy confirms once again that it is the favourite among European destinations for the summer of 2026.
The OTA occupancy rate – that is, how full accommodation facilities are on online booking platforms – stands at 51.2%, higher than competitors such as Spain (42.8%) and France (32.9%), while the average rate (€153) is lower than in Spain (€170) and Greece (€195).
In particular, according to data from the Statistics Office of the Ministry of Tourism, the highest occupancy rates are recorded in Veneto (57.5%), Emilia-Romagna (56.7%) and in the autonomous provinces of Trento (55.7%) and Bolzano (54.9%).
They are followed by Friuli Venezia Giulia (53.7%), Sicily (53.3%) and Tuscany (52.5%), all above the national average.
In June and July the occupancy rate rose by 13.4% and 10% respectively compared with the same period last year.
Among the destinations it is not only the coast that stands out: lake areas show the highest level of saturation (54%), followed by spa resorts and seaside destinations (both at 51%).
Compared with the previous year, growth is almost double the national average, which stands at under 4.5%.
Interior Ministry data confirm that 2026 will be a golden year for tourism in Italy, and in particular in Sardinia.
Which regions recorded the most tourist arrivals in 2026
In the first half of 2026 there was a significant increase in arrivals, up 4.43% compared with the same period in 2025 across the country.
Here is the ranking of the regions that saw the strongest growth in tourist arrivals in 2026:
- Calabria
- Umbria
- Piedmont
- Sardinia
- Puglia
- Liguria
Leading the way are Calabria (+10.54%), Umbria (+9.70%) and Piedmont (+9.22%); Sardinia (+8.24%), Puglia (+7.43%) and Liguria also perform well.
Both arrivals from abroad, up 6.45% (with standout performances in Calabria +23.19%, Puglia +14.63%, Abruzzo +14.04%, Molise +13.14%, Basilicata +11.55%, Sardinia +11.44%, Piedmont +10.38%), and domestic arrivals (+1.97%), with peaks in Umbria (+13.64%) and Liguria (+8.89%), are on the rise.
The trend is particularly strong for non-hotel tourism (+7.46%), while hotel establishments recorded growth of 2.27%.
Why tourism is a pillar of Italy’s national economy
"These figures," explains Tourism Minister Gianmarco Mazzi, "confirm that, in a world of global challenges, Italy’s tourism sector continues to post record results. The sector is proving increasingly strategic and is reaffirming its role as a pillar of the national economy. The ministry will continue to invest and look to the future with optimism."
"Italy is at the top of European tourism, a result that acknowledges the beauty of our country, the quality of our offering and the hard work of the entire tourism industry," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said with satisfaction.
"My thanks go to the entrepreneurs, workers and professionals in the sector who every day help make Italy an increasingly attractive destination and a more competitive one. The government will continue to play its part in supporting a sector that is strategic for our economy and for the country’s growth," the prime minister concluded.
