# Sports tourism development in Varese > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sports-tourism-development-in-varese > Updated: 2026-08-26T07:02:55.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 2. The Varese province in Italy is leveraging sporting events to drive regional tourism. In August 2026, the Varese Chamber of Commerce launched the ‘Sport&Stay’ pilot program, allocating up to €100,000 in subsidies to encourage athletes to extend their stays during competitions. The initiative aims to transform sports trips into longer tourism stays to boost the local economy. Assessments of the 2026 tourism season indicate that a dense schedule of national and international sporting events, such as the Tre Valli Varesine cycling races and the Italian Absolute Rowing Championships, has become a significant driver for the region. The BBVarese association noted that non-hotel accommodations, including B&Bs and holiday homes, play a critical role in supporting these events. Data shows that extra-hotel structures account for 96.1% of total accommodations in the province, providing widespread hospitality across various locations. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-26: Italy tourism sector shows strong growth for 2026 season Italy's 2026 tourism sector reports strong growth, with summer spending hitting 20.4 billion euros and significant increases in lake and coastal destinations despite labor and pollution challenges. 18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/varese-tourism-driven-by-sports-and-non-hotel-accommodations ### 2026-08-01: Varese Chamber of Commerce launches €100,000 Sport&Stay program to extend athletes' stays Varese’s Chamber of Commerce offers €100,000 in subsidies through the Sport&Stay program to lengthen athletes' visits, aiming to boost local tourism and the economy. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/varese-chamber-of-commerce-launches-100000-sportstay-program-to-extend-athletes-stays --- Cite as: Sports tourism development in Varese. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sports-tourism-development-in-varese