In Europe, summer 2026 speaks Italian. According to data released by the Ministry of Tourism, Italy leads the ranking for the occupancy rate of accommodation facilities marketed through online booking platforms (OTAs), with a figure of 51.2%, ahead of Spain (42.8%) and France (32.9%) for the June-August period. This leading position is further strengthened by the growth recorded compared with last year: the national saturation level increased by 13.4% in June and 10% in July compared with the same months in 2025.
The competitiveness of the sector is also supported by an average rate of €153, lower than that of Spain (€170) and Greece (€195). At regional level, the best performances are recorded in Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sicily and Tuscany, all of which show saturation rates above the national average.
Not just the seaside: lakeside destinations are growing
As far as destination types are concerned, lakeside locations record the highest occupancy level (54%), followed by spa destinations and seaside resorts, both standing at 51%.
Other indicators also confirm the positive momentum of Italian tourism. Searches for flights to Italy increased by 26% compared with 2025, with a 17% rise for the Ferragosto period. At the same time, air capacity is also growing, with a 14% increase in available seats on direct scheduled flights, a stronger growth rate than that recorded in Spain (+8%), Greece (+7%) and France (+2%).
Seasonality reduction accelerates
The figures confirm the positive performance of Italian tourism even outside the peak season. In April 2026, arrivals reached 12.8 million (+20.6% compared with 2025), while overnight stays rose to 36.2 million (+21.5%), a growth rate significantly higher than that of Spain, while Germany and Greece recorded a decline. The result is mainly driven by international demand, which accounts for 63.9% of overnight stays, with the average length of stay increasing to 2.8 nights.
Airport traffic was also positive, with more than 20 million passengers in April (+2.6%), while the tourism balance of payments recorded a surplus of €1.64 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 34.3% compared with 2025.
“Italy continues to maintain its position as a preferred destination for visitors from all over the world. This result is the outcome of constant teamwork between the Government, businesses and industry operators. We are proud of it and look to the future with optimism”, said Tourism Minister Gianmarco Mazzi.
Photo: Paolo Galvani
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