Italian towns Poggibonsi and Erice record strong tourism growth in early 2026

Poggibonsi reported a 7.5% rise in arrivals and a 2.4% increase in overnight stays in the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Year‑on‑year, total arrivals were up 16% and stays up 8% for 2025 versus 2024, with foreign visitors accounting for more than 51% of arrivals in April 2026. The town’s Tourist Information Office welcomed almost 2,200 visitors in its first year, 45% of whom came from major European markets and the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

In Erice, the medieval hill‑town saw an 86.1% jump in paying visitors to cultural sites during the second quarter of 2026, alongside an 82.5% rise in revenue and a 38% increase in funicular passengers. The mayor attributed the surge to coordinated promotion with national and international partners, participation in events such as “Borgo Divino in Tour,” and the town’s candidacy for European City of Sport. Both municipalities highlighted the results as evidence of successful collaborative tourism strategies.