With the Bit departing tomorrow, Enit data confirms the growth in tourism: already in the first quarter of 2026 there is a growth of 7% in airports
On the eve of the International Tourism Exchange (Bit), which will open its doors tomorrow in Rho, ENIT data confirm how much the tourism sector is a driving force for economic growth, with Italy consolidating its role among the leading destinations.
The impact on employment and GDP and future prospects
Last year, tourism had an impact of 13.2% on employment and 237.4 billion euros on GDP. Growth will continue over the next decade: according to Enit estimates, by 2035 the impact on GDP will exceed 282 billion, with an impact on employment of 15.7%. Among other things, compared to the rest of European countries, Italy in the tourism sector offers better statistics for both youth and female employment. The Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, spoke on the matter and declared: «We must treat the tourism sector as a real industry» and it is therefore «essential to develop a vision for the next ten years that enhances the entire national territory, starting from the lesser-known areas, to guarantee a better distribution of tourist flows both in space and time».
The weight of international tourism
The contribution of international tourism is also crucial: in the first 11 months of 2025, 255 million international visitors were recorded in our territory, with Italy reaching second place in Europe, overtaking France. In this regard, according to Enit Monitoring numbers, eight out of ten foreign tour operators have admitted an increase in sales to our country in 2025. This trajectory is also confirmed in the first three months of this year: 60% of tour operators have already seen an increase in bookings to Italy. And if in 2025 travelers from abroad invested 60.4 billion euros in Italy’s tourism, by 2035 spending could reach 80 billion euros. The CEO of Enit SpA, Ivana Jelinic, commented on the result: «Tourist spending and attendance are growing, a sign of Italy’s attractiveness towards foreign tourists. A positive trend that is also finding confirmation in this first part of the year, with a growing trend in the first quarter of 2026, which is already recording a 7% increase in arrivals at Italian airports”.
Who chooses Italy
The ranking of those who spend the most in our country is led by German tourists, followed by American, British and French tourists. In particular, travelers from Germany generated spending of 7.5 billion euros in the first nine months of 2025, an increase of 1.7% compared to the previous year. Followed by the United States, with 5.3 billion euros of spending and a growth of 3.3%, and the United Kingdom, which recorded one of the most significant increases, with 4.4 billion euros and an increase of 9%. Also in terms of airport arrivals, these countries lead the demand towards Italy: Germany represents 13.9% of total arrivals, the United Kingdom 12.3% and the United States 9.2%. And if in 2025 230 million passengers were welcomed in our airports, of which 157 million were international, 2026 is already opening with more than positive numbers: 3.5 million arrivals are expected in the first quarter, therefore with a growth of 7.2% compared to the same period in 2025.
The themes of the Bit
Enit will give life to a rich program of meetings during the Bit in which various topics will be addressed, including the impact of tourism on the well-being of Italians and the development of small territories, involving entities such as the Milan-Cortina Foundation and Difesa Servizi. And the regions affected by Cyclone Harry will be at the center tomorrow of the press conference “Welcome to Southern Italy: Calabria, Sardinia, Sicily. The wonder that does not stop” which will see the presence of Santanchè, Jelinic and the institutional representatives of the territories affected.
