Italian tourism is on the rise and can look confidently to the future. This is confirmed by the 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which paints a picture of a strong recovery. According to the study by the international organization, the indicators are positive, and the travel and tourism segment in Italy is heading towards a full return to pre-pandemic levels.
The contribution to the economy will be almost €194 billion, a figure not far from the €200.5 billion in 2019, the highest value reached before the health crisis that disrupted the sector. We are thus around 10% of the national GDP, just 3% below the peak reached in 2019, the record year for Italian tourism.
An industry that employs nearly 2.8 million people
Positive data also on the employment front, with the forecast of creating over 65,000 jobs in 2023, which will mark an almost complete recovery of the positions lost due to the Covic-19 pandemic, bringing the sector to employ nearly 2.8 million people.
The positive trend in tourism in Italy has been contributed by the return of international travelers, which started significantly in 2022 and led to a 99.3% increase in foreign visitors’ spending, reaching over €42 billion, or only 11% less than the 2019 levels.
In the document, WTTC also outlines forecasts for the next decade, anticipating further growth in Italian tourism: by 2033, the travel and tourism sector should have the capacity to increase its contribution to the Italian GDP, reaching nearly €237 billion, or about 12% of the Italian economy, and employing over 3.3 million people throughout the country, which means one in seven Italians.
Positive data also at the European level
As Italy strengthens its recovery, the entire European region is giving excellent signals: the growth of the sector recorded in 2022 seems to consolidate in 2023, so much so that according to WTTC’s forecasts, the sector’s contribution to the region’s GDP will reach €2.04 trillion in 2023, nearing the peak of 2019. As for employment, WTTC predicts that the sector will fully recover the jobs lost during the pandemic by the end of 2024.
