Minister Santanchè inaugurates the sector’s leading fair: more services and quality for tourism that is worth 13% of GDP. Enit: +5.7% attendance in 2025
The Ttg travel experience kicked off in Rimini: the leading fair in Italy dedicated to tourism and its promotion at a global level. Until 10 October it will be the center of meetings between tourism sector operators, international buyers, the media and institutions.
Inauguration
The Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanchè, cut the ribbon on the event, this year entitled “Awake to a new era”. Recalling the first WTTC Global Summit in Italy, he announced that «the investments announced at the conclusion of the summit, equal to 8 billion euros, will support growth, employment, innovation and infrastructural development for a sector that contributes to 13% of GDP and jobs». The commitment is always aimed at “supporting” growth through “policies that promote innovation and investment in tourism infrastructure and supporting workers”. Like, for example, the decree on staff houses of 120 million euros. «The challenge» on the table concerns services: «We must increase and elevate services at all levels in our nation» Santanchè pointed out. And he pointed out, however, that if on the one hand “tourism must be accessible”, on the other hand “quality” must also be guaranteed. «It must not be hit-and-run tourism, which is predatory tourism that is bad for Italy» he concluded.
Among the guests at his side at the inaugural ceremony was also the president of the Italian exhibition group (Ieg), Maurizio Ermeti. The objective of the TTG and Inout (the fair dedicated to hospitality) is not merely to “photograph what is happening”, but to continue to increasingly be “a platform of ideas, a hotbed for projects” said Ermeti. Who also underlined how the title of this edition is «an invitation to awaken from habits and customs because the facts are teaching us how tourists and the very way of doing tourism have changed since the Covid period onwards. Today no one likes being a mass anymore.”
Tourism data
On the occasion of the event, Enit shared data on tourism and forecasts for the next ten years. Looking at the present, the growth of the tourism sector is confirmed. By the end of 2025, it will create 3.2 million jobs, with an impact on GDP that will exceed 237 billion euros. Tourism spending is also increasing: by the end of the year it will reach 185 billion.
In our territory, in the first seven months of 2025, over 268 million tourist presences were recorded, with an increase of +5.7%. The country is thus the second “most chosen” country in Europe. Foreigners who visited Italy reached 151 million and among other things spent 24.9 billion in the Peninsula. Italians abroad instead spent 15.7 billion. It goes without saying, therefore, that the balance of tourism spending in the first half of 2025 is also positive: the total balance is +9.2 billion euros.
On the transport front, international airport passengers are increasing: Enit has announced an increase of 7.4% compared to 2024. The countries from which the majority of tourists come are the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and Spain. Those arriving from Germany are those who spend the most in the Peninsula: 3.6 billion euros.
The CEO of Enit SpA, Ivana Jelinic, commented on the positive results: «Tourism is growing and driving the development of our country. Economic development, as demonstrated by the numbers, and social development, generating employment and investments in the territories. A tool that enhances local communities and unites cultures.” In this regard, Santanchè also underlined: «The data presented today by Enit confirm not only the resilience of our sector, but also Italy’s ability to attract visitors from all over the world».
