Palermo records 1.4 million tourist arrivals in first half of 2026

Palermo has reached a significant milestone in tourism, recording over 1.4 million arrivals during the first six months of 2026. According to data from the Sicilian Region's Tourist Observatory, international visitors now account for 69.4% of the total, up from 64.8% during the same period in 2025.

Key growth markets include Germany, the United States, and Poland, with Poland seeing the most substantial increase of approximately 46,000 additional visitors compared to the previous year. Other notable increases were recorded from Slovakia and the United Kingdom.

Economic impact is further evidenced by Nexi report data, which shows that digital transactions by foreign travelers in Palermo reached 136 million euros between January and August 2026. This represents a 26.9% increase compared to the previous year, the highest percentage growth among all Italian cities. Mayor Roberto Lagalla attributed the success to international promotion efforts and expanded flight connections at Falcone-Borsellino Airport.