Italian Golf Federation launches strategy to boost golf tourism

The Italian Golf Federation (FIG) has launched a strategic initiative to establish Italy as a premier global destination for golf tourism. During a recent talk at the Golf Club Milano, held alongside the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open, FIG President Cristiano Cerchiai emphasized the need to create a unified system that integrates sports with local territories to promote the country and encourage seasonal tourism diversification.

Lombardy is positioned as a central hub for this growth, currently hosting 18 percent of Italy’s affiliated golf clubs and over 29 percent of its members. Local officials, including the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, and the Mayor of Monza, Paolo Pilotto, highlighted the potential for golf to drive economic value and enhance the appeal of regional landmarks like the Monza Park.

This push coincides with strong tourism trends in the region. Recent data from Confcommercio indicates that during the summer of 2026, 64 percent of visitors to Lombardy were international travelers, with a high concentration of high-spending tourists visiting the lakes and Milan.