Overview

• Italy recorded 458 million tourist stays in 2024, surpassing France and ranking second globally behind Spain.
• The government attributes this success to a strategy of market diversification, with increased foreign visitors, longer stays, and higher spending from key markets like the U.S., Poland, and the Czech Republic.
• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has positioned tourism gains as a political statement, highlighting competition with France as part of broader European dynamics.
• Regulatory reforms targeting short-term rentals aim to curb abuses, protect local operators, and enhance visitor guarantees.
• Meloni reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to solidifying Italy’s role as a global tourism superpower, building on its cultural and natural assets.