Italian regions report tourism growth and new hospitality policies

tourism growth short‑term rental regulations regional grant programmes luxury travel event Italian museums

Tourism continues to drive economic activity across Italy. In Tuscany, total tourist arrivals reached 55.5 million in 2025, with foreign visitors accounting for roughly 60 % of the total. The Uffizi Gallery recorded 5.3 million guests that year, an 18.2 % rise over pre‑pandemic figures, while smaller municipal museums remain below 2019 levels.

Rome’s city council approved new technical implementation norms that restrict the subdivision and aggregation of properties for short‑term rentals, aiming to protect residential use while reshaping the short‑term‑let market.

The Appennino area of Bologna reported around 300 000 visitors annually, a 9 % increase in the latest year, and targets up to 700 000 stays as the region expands its tourism‑related services.

Puglia’s “Mini PIA Turismo” programme offers grant funding covering up to 60‑80 % of renovation costs for historic masserie, trulli and other heritage buildings, with a total budget of €20 million.

In Umbria, the town of Todi saw arrivals rise 4.1 % and overall presence grow 8.8 % in the first half of 2026, amounting to roughly 51 000 arrivals and 127 000 overnight stays, outperforming regional averages.

Bergamasca recorded a 10 % increase in hotel bookings for August 2026 compared with the previous year, reflecting strong demand for short‑stay city and mountain destinations.

The AURA Luxury Travel Event, organized by the Italian Exhibition Group, is scheduled for 27‑29 October 2026 in Florence’s Fortezza da Basso, gathering 745 high‑end hotels with 167 new openings projected by 2029.

Entities: ANBBA · Bologna City · Capitolina Assembly · Puglia Region · Rome City · Rome City Council · Todi City · Tuscany Region · short‑term rental market

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Rome approved new technical implementation norms (NTA) that limit the subdivision and aggregation of properties intended for short‑term hospitality. (Rome City Council decision.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Bergamasca saw a 10 % increase in hotel bookings for August 2026 compared with the previous year. (Confcommercio Bergamo and Federalberghi survey.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The AURA Luxury Travel Event is scheduled for 27‑29 October 2026 in Florence’s Fortezza da Basso, featuring 745 luxury hotels and 167 planned openings by 2029. (Italian Exhibition Group announcement.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Puglia’s Mini PIA Turismo programme offers grant funding covering up to 60‑80 % of renovation costs for historic tourist properties, with a total budget of €20 million. (Puglia Sviluppo S.p.A. announcement.)
[● 2 SOURCES] Todi recorded a 4.1 % rise in arrivals and an 8.8 % increase in total presence in the first half of 2026, amounting to about 51 000 arrivals and 127 000 overnight stays. (Umbria regional tourism analysis, June 2026.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Appennino area of Bologna recorded approximately 300 000 tourists annually, a 9 % growth in the latest year, and aims to reach 700 000 stays. (Confcommercio Ascom Bologna statements.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Uffizi Gallery recorded 5.3 million visitors in 2025, an 18.2 % increase over pre‑pandemic levels. (Irpet report on Tuscan museums.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Tourist arrivals in Tuscany reached 55.5 million in 2025, with foreign visitors accounting for about 60 % of the total. (Tourism observation by the Regional Culture Observatory, Irpet, for Tuscany.)