# Tourism trends in Southern Italy

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tourism-trends-in-southern-italy
> Updated: 2026-10-28T13:40:16.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2.

Tourism in Southern Italian provinces has shown growth through the first half and seven months of 2026, driven largely by an increase in international visitors.

In Lecce, arrivals reached 969,000 during the first seven months of the year, marking a 4.3 percent increase compared to 2025. This growth is primarily attributed to a 10.2 percent rise in international arrivals, which is contributing to the “gradual de-seasonalization” of the region as foreign tourists visit during spring and autumn.

Similarly, Palermo recorded over 1.4 million arrivals in the first six months of 2026. International visitors accounted for 69.4% of these arrivals, up from 64.8% in the previous year. Significant growth was noted from markets including Germany, the United States, and Poland. Economic data indicated that digital transactions by foreign travelers in Palermo reached 136 million euros between January and August 2026, a 26.9% increase over the previous year.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-28: Palermo records 1.4 million tourist arrivals in first half of 2026

Palermo recorded 1.4 million tourist arrivals in early 2026, with international visitors making up nearly 70% of the total and digital spending by foreigners rising by 26.9%.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/palermo-records-14-million-tourist-arrivals-in-first-half-of-2026

### 2026-09-30: Lecce tourism grows as international arrivals rise

Tourism in Lecce grew by 4.3 percent in early 2026, driven by a 10.2 percent rise in international arrivals helping to extend the traditional summer season.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lecce-tourism-grows-as-international-arrivals-rise

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Cite as: Tourism trends in Southern Italy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tourism-trends-in-southern-italy