It is a record for tourism in Italy. In 2024, 458 million visitors were recorded, with an increase of 2.5% compared to the previous year. Above all, foreign tourists are driving the growth. And in the meantime, with the beginning of 2025, the National Identification Code (Cin) is operational and 80% of the structures are in compliance, therefore protected from the sanctions that will now be applied to violators
Current data relating to 2024 from the Florence Tourist Study Center for Assoturismo Confesercenti. (the definitive ones will take time) show that tourism in Italy has resisted despite the increase in prices and the economic situation. 458 million visitors, with an increase mainly due to international visitors. Foreign presences reached 251.5 million (+7.4%) and arrivals were 72.1 million (+6.3%). This increase compensated for the decline in domestic tourism, which recorded a decline of 2.8% in terms of presences and 2.9% in arrivals.
The growth involved the whole country, with the exception of the North-East, where the increase was slightly lower than the national average. As regards the type of tourism, the one linked to the lakes stood out in 2024. Best performance with +6.5%. Followed by countryside and hills (+5.8%), cities of art (+3.6%) and mountains (+2.5%). Slight growth for seaside and spa tourism and a slight decline for “other interest” locations.
By 2025 the sector must face the revolution of the National Identification Code (CIN). In fact, the new year marks the entry into force of the obligation and the sanctions (which vary from 500 to 8 thousand euros) in case of transgression. According to Federalberghi, almost 80% of the structures registered in the accommodation database (over 451,000 out of 571,000) already have the code. Matera is the most “virtuous” tourist destination, with 94.10% of the structures already in compliance. In second place is Bolzano (93.09%). Looking at the Regions at the top of the ranking is Tuscany, with 54,134 CIN released. Following are Lombardy, Veneto, Lazio, Puglia and Sicily.
The forecasts for the year that has just begun estimate a possible initial slowdown in the first months, followed by a recovery. A survey by the Centro Studi Turistici per Assoturismo Confesercenti, in fact, finds that over 6 out of ten entrepreneurs in the hospitality sector expect stability in the first part of 2025. The greatest concerns are among the operators of seaside and spa resorts, the most vulnerable areas.
