Italy tourism sees sharp drop in Gulf visitors while overall surplus stays strong

A Bank of Italy survey of international tourism shows a steep decline in visitors from the Gulf region, with arrivals down about 35% in March, 60% in April and 20% in May 2024 compared with the same months a year earlier. The loss mainly affects high‑end travellers who favour five‑star hotels, luxury shopping and upscale restaurants.

Despite the regional slowdown, Italy's tourism balance of payments posted a €22.7 billion surplus in 2025 – roughly 1 % of GDP – driven by increased spending from foreign tourists, especially those attending the Jubilee and visiting art cities. Early 2026 data indicate the surplus continued to grow, helped by the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games, although the Gulf‑region decline partially offset the overall demand boost.