Italy’s tourism industry reached another historic milestone in 2025, with more than 185 million arrivals recorded across the country as international demand for Italian culture, cities, beaches and cuisine continued to grow strongly. New figures from the Italian Interior Ministry’s ‘Alloggiati Web’ system show that total arrivals increased by 7.1% compared with 2024, rising from 173 million to more than 185 million in a single year.
Today, 2 June, is Festa della Repubblica or Republic Day. The day commemorates the 1946 Italian institutional referendum held by universal suffrage, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government following World War II and the fall of Fascism.
The data confirms Italy’s position as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations and highlights the extraordinary scale of the country’s visitor economy. Foreign arrivals grew by 8.7% to more than 104 million, while domestic tourism also increased by 5.1%, reaching over 81 million arrivals. International travellers therefore accounted for around 56% of all arrivals during the year.
The figures were presented during the Third International Tourism Forum in Milan and reflect continued growth across hotels, holiday apartments, guesthouses, agriturismi (holiday homes on an active farm) and other forms of accommodation throughout the country.
Italy’s tourism success is built on a rare combination of history, culture, gastronomy, landscapes and lifestyle. From the ancient ruins of Rome to the canals of Venice, the Renaissance treasures of Florence, the fashion districts of Milan and the beaches of Sicily and Sardinia, the country attracts visitors from virtually every major tourism market in the world.
Foreign tourism drives growth
International tourism remained the main engine behind Italy’s expansion in 2025. More than 104 million foreign arrivals were registered during the year, up from 95.7 million in 2024. The increase reflects strong demand from both European and long-haul markets.
Germany continues to be one of Italy’s largest source markets, with German visitors especially prominent around Lake Garda, South Tyrol, Veneto and the Adriatic Coast. France, Switzerland, Austria, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands also contribute heavily to inbound tourism, particularly because of easy rail and road access.
The United States has become increasingly important for the Italian tourism economy, especially for luxury travel, cultural tourism and high-spending city breaks.
American travellers are particularly visible in Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, and along the Amalfi Coast. Italy’s tourism minister previously highlighted the importance of visitors from the United States to the sector’s strong performance.
Asian tourism has also continued recovering following the pandemic years. Visitors from China, Japan, and South Korea are gradually returning to major cultural destinations and luxury shopping districts, although some markets are recovering faster than others.
Domestic tourism meanwhile remains essential for Italy’s regional economies. Italians continue to travel extensively within their own country for seaside holidays, mountain breaks, religious tourism and short cultural weekends.
Hotels remain dominant, but apartments and rentals grow rapidly
Hotels continue to account for the majority of tourist arrivals in Italy. In 2025 hotel arrivals increased by 3%, reaching more than 104.6 million.
However, the strongest growth came from the extra-hotel sector. Arrivals in holiday apartments, rural accommodation, bed-and-breakfasts and short-term rentals surged by 13%, climbing from 71.4 million to more than 80.6 million.
The trend reflects changing travel behaviour. Increasing numbers of tourists prefer flexible accommodation options, particularly families, younger travellers and visitors staying for longer periods. Rural tourism and agriturismo experiences have also become increasingly popular, especially in Tuscany, Umbria, Piedmont and Apulia (Puglia).
The growth of short-term rentals has nevertheless become politically controversial in several cities, particularly in Venice, Florence and Rome, where local authorities are attempting to balance tourism income with housing affordability for residents.
Where tourists go in Italy
Tourism in Italy is highly concentrated in a relatively small number of iconic destinations, although regional authorities are increasingly promoting lesser-known areas to spread visitor flows more evenly. Discussions around overtourism have intensified in recent years, especially in Venice and Florence.
Rome remains the country’s largest tourism destination thanks to its unparalleled concentration of ancient monuments, museums and religious sites. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon and Vatican City continue to attract millions of visitors every year.
Venice remains one of the world’s most recognisable tourism destinations, despite ongoing debates over overcrowding, cruise tourism and sustainability. Florence continues to benefit from its status as the cradle of the Renaissance, while Milan has strengthened its position as a global destination for fashion, design, business tourism and luxury shopping.
Other major tourism regions include Tuscany, Veneto, Lombardy, Latium (Lazio), Emilia-Romagna and Campania. Coastal tourism remains central to the Italian tourism model, particularly in Sicily, Sardinia, Liguria, Calabria and Apulia.
Mountain tourism is equally important. The Alps and Dolomites attract millions of visitors for skiing, hiking and wellness tourism, while lakes such as Como, Garda and Maggiore remain internationally popular.
Southern Italy has also experienced strong growth in recent years. Regions such as Calabria, Basilicata and Apulia are increasingly attracting travellers seeking slower tourism, authentic villages and less crowded destinations.
What visitors come to see and do
Italy’s tourism appeal stretches far beyond sightseeing alone. The country combines cultural tourism with food, fashion, religious heritage, luxury travel, cruise tourism, wine tourism and outdoor recreation.
Italy has the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, with 61 listed locations, including 55 cultural sites and six natural sites. UNESCO heritage tourism plays a major role in the country’s international image and tourism economy.
Among the country’s most famous attractions are the archaeological ruins of Pompeii, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Amalfi Coast, the Dolomites, Cinque Terre, the Valley of the Temples in Sicily and the historic centres of Rome, Florence and Venice.
Food tourism has become one of Italy’s most powerful attractions. Travellers increasingly visit Italy specifically for regional cuisine, wine experiences and culinary traditions. Naples is associated with pizza, Emilia-Romagna with pasta and parmesan, Tuscany with wine tourism, and Sicily with desserts and seafood traditions.
Cruise tourism is another major sector. Italy is the Mediterranean’s leading cruise destination, with ports such as Venice, Genoa, Naples, Palermo and Civitavecchia near Rome receiving millions of cruise passengers every year.
Italy also benefits from what many tourism experts describe as experiential and slow tourism. Visitors increasingly seek village life, local traditions, hiking routes and cultural immersion rather than only visiting the major cities. Online discussions among travellers frequently highlight Italy’s combination of heritage, cuisine and local identity as part of its unique appeal.
How tourists enter the country
Air travel remains the dominant gateway into Italy for international visitors. Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa are the country’s largest international airports, while Venice, Naples, Bologna, Catania and Florence also handle substantial tourism traffic.
Low-cost airlines have transformed tourism patterns over the last two decades by opening direct routes between secondary European cities and Italian regional airports. This has helped destinations such as Apulia, Sicily and Sardinia attract much larger visitor numbers.
Rail transport is also fundamental to Italy’s tourism economy. High-speed trains connect Rome, Milan, Florence, Naples, Turin, and Venice, allowing tourists to move quickly between major destinations. Cross-border rail links connect Italy with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia.
Road tourism remains extremely important for visitors from neighbouring countries. Large numbers of German, Austrian, Dutch and Swiss tourists travel to Italy by car, especially to the Adriatic Coast, northern lakes and mountain resorts.
Cruise ships and ferries contribute significantly as well, particularly in Venice, Genoa, Naples, and Sicily.
How long visitors stay
Length of stay varies considerably depending on destination and travel style. Short city breaks in Rome, Milan, Venice, or Florence often last between two and four nights, especially among European travellers.
Longer stays are more common in beach destinations, mountain resorts and rural regions, where visitors may spend one or two weeks. American and Asian travellers also tend to remain longer because they frequently combine several Italian regions within a single trip.
Recent tourism data suggests the average stay in Italy has increased to around 3.6 nights overall, which is relatively high compared with several competing European destinations.
Tourism’s enormous economic impact
Tourism has become one of Italy’s most important economic sectors. The industry supports employment across hotels, restaurants, transport, retail, entertainment, museums and cultural institutions.
Tourism contributes roughly 10% to 13% of Italy’s GDP when direct and indirect effects are included, according to various estimates.
International visitor spending continues to rise strongly. According to 2025 projections, foreign tourism spending reached more than €46 billion during the first nine months of the year alone.
At the same time, the rapid expansion of tourism has created growing concerns about sustainability and overtourism. Venice introduced entry fees for day visitors, while several cities are considering tighter regulation of cruise ships and short-term rentals.
Authorities are increasingly trying to promote tourism in smaller cities, villages and rural regions in order to reduce pressure on the traditional hotspots while spreading economic benefits more evenly across the country.
Despite these challenges, Italy’s tourism industry enters 2026 in a position of exceptional strength. With more than 185 million arrivals, rising international demand and continued investment in infrastructure and promotion, the country remains one of the most influential tourism destinations anywhere in the world.
Overtourism becomes a growing challenge for Italy
The extraordinary success of Italy’s tourism industry has also created one of its biggest modern challenges: overtourism. While tourism generates billions of euros in revenue and supports millions of jobs, the sheer scale of visitor numbers is placing increasing pressure on historic cities, local infrastructure, housing markets and fragile cultural heritage sites.
Few countries experience the effects of overtourism as visibly as Italy. In destinations such as Venice, Florence, Rome and parts of the Amalfi Coast, residents and local authorities have become increasingly concerned about overcrowding, rising housing costs and the transformation of historic neighbourhoods into spaces dominated almost entirely by tourism.
Venice has become the international symbol of the overtourism debate. The city receives tens of millions of visitors every year despite having a relatively small permanent population in its historic centre. Narrow streets and canals frequently become heavily congested during peak periods, especially when cruise passengers and day-trippers arrive simultaneously. Concerns over environmental damage, depopulation and the impact of mass tourism on daily life have led authorities to introduce new measures, including a visitor entry fee for day tourists and tighter controls on cruise ships entering the Venetian Lagoon.
Florence faces similar pressures. The Tuscan capital attracts enormous numbers of cultural tourists drawn by Renaissance art, architecture and museums such as the Uffizi Gallery.
However, many residents argue that the city centre is increasingly losing its residential character as apartments are converted into short-term tourist rentals. Local businesses aimed at residents are also being replaced by souvenir shops, restaurants and tourism-oriented services.
Rome experiences overcrowding on an even larger scale because of its size and global popularity. Major landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Vatican Museums frequently struggle with extremely high visitor volumes, particularly during the spring and summer seasons. Religious tourism linked to the Vatican also contributes significantly to visitor pressure, especially during Jubilee years and major Catholic events.
The Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre and parts of Tuscany have also become heavily affected by overtourism during peak months. Small coastal towns designed for relatively limited populations often receive huge numbers of tourists during the summer season, creating traffic congestion, strains on water supplies and pressure on local services. In some villages, local authorities have introduced crowd-control measures or restrictions on tourist behaviour.
Short-term rental platforms (Airbnb) have become central to the debate. Across many Italian cities, critics argue that the rapid growth of holiday apartments has contributed to rising rents and reduced housing availability for residents. Historic centres in cities such as Venice, Florence, and Rome have seen significant population decline over recent decades as more properties shift toward tourism accommodation.
At the same time, many local economies have become deeply dependent on tourism revenue. Restaurants, hotels, museums, transport operators and retailers all benefit from high visitor numbers, making it politically difficult to restrict tourism too aggressively. For many smaller towns and southern regions, tourism also represents one of the few major drivers of economic growth and employment.
Italian authorities are therefore increasingly trying to balance economic benefits with sustainability. One major strategy involves promoting lesser-known destinations in order to spread tourism more evenly across the country. Regions such as Calabria, Basilicata, Molise and inland parts of Sicily are being marketed more actively as alternatives to the overcrowded traditional hotspots.
There is also growing interest in so-called ‘slow tourism‘, which encourages visitors to stay longer, travel outside the peak season and explore smaller communities rather than concentrating only on the most famous landmarks. Rail tourism, hiking tourism, cycling routes, food tourism and village tourism are all being promoted as more sustainable models of travel.
Seasonality remains another major issue. Large parts of Italy experience overwhelming visitor numbers during the summer months, while many destinations become much quieter during winter. Authorities increasingly hope to extend tourism demand into spring and autumn in order to reduce pressure during July and August.
Climate change may further complicate the situation in coming years. Extreme heatwaves, droughts and environmental pressures are already affecting parts of southern Italy and Venice’s lagoon ecosystem, adding another layer to discussions about the future sustainability of mass tourism.
Despite the challenges, Italy continues to benefit enormously from its global tourism appeal.
The country’s cultural heritage, cuisine, landscapes and lifestyle remain among the strongest tourism brands in the world. Yet the debate around overtourism increasingly reflects a broader question facing many European destinations: how to preserve the authenticity and liveability of historic places while continuing to welcome record numbers of visitors.
Belgium is a growing source market for Italian tourism
Belgium is one of Italy’s more important northern European tourism markets and ranked as the country’s eleventh-largest foreign source market in 2023. According to Italian tourism statistics, Belgium generated 1,327,329 visitor arrivals that year, placing it behind larger markets such as Germany, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, but still ahead of many other European countries.
The figures underline Italy’s strong appeal among Belgian travellers. Although Belgium is a relatively small country in population terms, Italians tourism authorities regard Belgian visitors as particularly valuable because they tend to travel frequently, stay relatively long periods and spend heavily on gastronomy, culture and accommodation.
Germany remained by far Italy’s largest foreign tourism market in 2023 with more than 13.5 million arrivals, followed by the United States with 7.5 million and France with just over 5 million. Belgium nevertheless outperformed several larger European countries in terms of visitor numbers, reflecting Italy’s enduring popularity among Belgian holidaymakers.
Belgian tourists favour culture, gastronomy and lakeside holidays
Belgian visitors are especially attracted to destinations such as Tuscany, Venice, Rome, Florence, the Italian lakes, and the Dolomites. Lake Garda has traditionally been one of the most popular destinations for Belgian families, particularly those travelling by car or staying at campsites and holiday villages during the summer season.
City tourism is also highly significant. Rome, Venice, and Florence remain among the favourite destinations for Belgian travellers interested in art, history and architecture. In recent years Sicily, Apulia, and Naples have also grown in popularity as Belgian tourists increasingly seek culinary tourism, authentic regional experiences and destinations outside the traditional tourism hotspots.
Food and wine tourism play an especially important role in the Belgian market. Belgian travellers are often associated with longer, slower holidays centred around regional cuisine, vineyards, agriturismi and rural landscapes. Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, and Piedmont particularly benefit from this trend.
Most Belgians travel by air, but road tourism remains important
Air travel has become the dominant form of transport for Belgian visitors travelling to Italy, especially since the expansion of low-cost airlines across Europe. Direct flights connect Brussels, Charleroi, and nearby airports with Italian destinations including Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, Bologna, Bari, Palermo and Catania.
At the same time, road tourism continues to play a major role. Many Belgian families still travel to Italy by car, particularly for longer summer holidays around the Adriatic Coast, northern Italy and the lakes. Italy’s relative accessibility from Belgium through France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany makes driving a practical option, especially for camping tourism and extended stays.
Rail tourism has also become increasingly popular. Belgium’s high-speed rail connections to France, Switzerland, and Germany allow relatively easy onward connections to northern Italian cities such as Milan, Turin, and Venice.
A small but established Belgian community lives in Italy
Italy is also home to a modest Belgian expatriate population. Exact figures vary because many residents divide their time between multiple countries, but several thousand Belgians are believed to live either permanently or semi-permanently in Italy.
Belgian residents are especially concentrated in Rome and Milan, where diplomatic institutions, international organisations and multinational companies create professional opportunities. Others live in Tuscany, Liguria and Umbria, often linked to tourism businesses, hospitality, lifestyle migration or second-home ownership.
Retirement migration has also become increasingly visible. Some Belgians choose to settle in Italy because of the climate, cuisine, lifestyle and slower pace of life, particularly in rural areas and smaller towns.
Strong historical ties connect Belgium and Italy
Tourism links between Belgium and Italy are reinforced by longstanding historical and economic connections between the two countries. Large-scale Italian migration to Belgium after World War II created strong social and cultural ties that continue today. Tens of thousands of Belgians have Italian roots, particularly in Wallonia and Brussels, contributing to enduring interest in Italian culture, cuisine and travel.
These historical links help explain why Italy continues to attract large numbers of repeat Belgian visitors. Many travellers return regularly to the same regions or holiday destinations, creating long-term tourism relationships that are particularly valuable for local economies.
Belgian tourists are also generally considered less concentrated in extreme overtourism patterns than some other international markets. Although major cities such as Rome and Venice remain highly popular, Belgian travellers are often associated with slower travel styles, rural tourism and repeat visits to smaller regional destinations, helping spread tourism revenue more widely across the country.
Italy and Belgium are linked by deep migration and tourism ties
The close relationship between Italy and Belgium also works strongly in the opposite direction. Italians represent one of the largest foreign communities in Belgium, while Italy is also an important source market for Belgian tourism, particularly in cities such as Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, and Ghent.
Tourism flows from Italy to Belgium are smaller than Belgian tourism to Italy, partly because Belgium is generally viewed as a shorter-stay destination focused on culture, business travel and European institutions rather than long summer holidays. Nevertheless, hundreds of thousands of Italians visit Belgium every year for leisure, professional travel and family connections.
Brussels remains the main attraction for Italian visitors. The Belgian capital benefits from its role as the political centre of the European Union, attracting Italian politicians, diplomats, journalists, business travellers and civil servants throughout the year.
Many Italians combine professional trips with cultural tourism, visiting landmarks such as the Grand Place, the Atomium and the city’s museums, restaurants and shopping districts.
Belgian cities such as Bruges, and Ghent are especially popular for short cultural breaks. Bruges in particular enjoys a strong reputation among Italian travellers because of its medieval architecture, canals and romantic image.
Antwerp increasingly attracts Italian visitors interested in fashion, art, diamonds and design, while the Belgian coast and Ardennes appeal to smaller numbers of leisure travellers.
Belgium’s culinary reputation also plays an important role in attracting Italian visitors. Belgian beer culture, chocolate, fries and fine dining are frequently highlighted in Italian travel media, while Christmas markets and winter tourism have become increasingly popular among Italian city-break travellers.
Transport connections between the two countries are extensive. Direct flights link Brussels with Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples and several other Italian cities, while rail connections through France increasingly allow Italians to reach Belgium by high-speed train. Road travel also remains important, particularly for families and longer stays.
Italians form one of Belgium’s largest foreign communities
Far more significant than tourism alone is the Italian presence within Belgium itself. Italians form one of the country’s largest foreign-origin communities and represent one of the most historically important migrant groups in modern Belgian history.
Large-scale Italian migration to Belgium began after the Second World War. In 1946, Belgium and Italy signed a labour agreement under which tens of thousands of Italian workers moved to Belgium to work primarily in the coal mines of Wallonia.
Belgium needed labour to rebuild its post-war economy, while Italy faced high unemployment and poverty in several regions, particularly in the south.
Over the following decades, large Italian communities developed in cities and industrial areas such as Charleroi, Liège, Mons, and Brussels. Mining disasters such as the 1956 Marcinelle catastrophe, in which many Italian miners lost their lives, became defining moments in the shared history of both countries.
Today, people of Italian origin form one of the largest ethnic communities in Belgium. Estimates vary depending on methodology, but several hundred thousand Belgian residents are believed to have full or partial Italian roots. Many families are now second-, third- or fourth-generation Belgian Italians.
Italian influence is particularly visible in Wallonia and Brussels, where Italian restaurants, cafés, bakeries and cultural associations remain an important part of local life. Italian is also among the most widely spoken foreign languages in parts of Belgium because of these historical migration patterns.
Italian migration reshaped Belgian society
The Italian community has had a profound influence on Belgian culture, politics, business and cuisine. Italian migration helped transform Belgian food culture in the second half of the twentieth century, making pizza, pasta, espresso and Mediterranean dining mainstream across the country.
Many prominent Belgian politicians, artists, athletes and media personalities also have Italian family backgrounds. Think of former Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo. The Italian community is widely viewed as one of the most successfully integrated migrant communities in Belgium, while still maintaining strong cultural connections to Italy.
Economic links between the two countries remain extensive. Many Italians continue to move to Belgium for work in European institutions, international companies, research organisations and universities. Brussels in particular attracts highly educated Italian professionals working in politics, law, lobbying, communications and diplomacy.
At the same time, many Belgian Italians maintain close ties with Italy through property ownership, tourism, family visits and dual nationality. Summer travel between Belgium and Italy remains especially significant, with many families regularly travelling south to visit relatives or holiday in their ancestral regions.
Tourism and migration continue to reinforce each other
The historical migration relationship between Italy and Belgium continues to shape tourism patterns in both directions. Family visits remain an important part of travel flows, while the large Italian-origin population in Belgium helps sustain strong cultural interest in Italy itself.
Likewise, Italians visiting Belgium often benefit from existing family, business or institutional networks, especially in Brussels and Wallonia. The relationship between the two countries therefore extends well beyond conventional tourism and reflects decades of social, economic and cultural exchange.
This long-standing connection helps explain why Italy and Belgium maintain unusually close people-to-people links despite their relatively modest size and geographical distance within Europe.
Italy by train 2018
- From Cannes to Turin.
- Holiday Inn Turin City Center.
- Turin.
- Frecciarossa ‘Red Arrow’ train.
- Holiday Inn Milan Garibaldi Station.
- Lake Como.
- Milan – Bernina – Sankt Moritz.
Italy 2019 ft a Mediterranean cruise
- REVIEW | FH55 Hotel Calzaiuoli Firenze.
- PHOTOS | Uffizi Gallery in Florence (Firenze).
- The new tram line 2 in Florence.
- 3 + 2 ways to escape the (over)crowds in Florence (Firenze), Italy.
- Trenitalia Frecciarossa high speed train between Florence and Venice in Business Executive class.
- REVIEW | Hotel Casanova in Venice, Italy.
- Exploring Venice, Italy in half a day and a night.
- Searching for history in Ancona, Marche, Italy.
Paris – Italy – Basel 2022
- REVIEW | Restaurant Le Train Blue at Paris-Gare-de-Lyon.
- REVIEW | Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Paris – Milan in Business Executive.
- REVIEW | Just Hotel Milano.
- FYRA NOSTALGIA | Trenitalia Frecciargento Milan to Trieste on the ETR 700 ex-Fyra.
- REVIEW | Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta.
- TRIESTE | Miramare Castle.
- History of Trieste at Diego de Henriquez War for Peace Museum / Museo de la Guerra per Pace.
- ITALY | 1.5 day in Trieste.
- EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Sights and churches in Bologna.
- History of Bologna Museum at Palazzo Pepoli.
- REVIEW | The Social Hub Bologna.
- BOLOGNA | University Museums of Palazzo Poggi ft. Obstetrics, Military Architecture, Geographical Maps and Human Anatomy.
- REVIEW | Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
- EMILIA-ROMAGNA | A walk in Modena.
- EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Bologna & Modena 2022.
- Trains in Italy.
- EUROCITY EC-52 | Milan to Basel (and to Frankfurt) via the Simplon Tunnel.
- SWITZERLAND | Basel during Herbstmesse.
- REVIEW | Hyperion Basel.
- EUROCITY EC-8 | Basel to Cologne in SBB’s Panoramic Car.
- Italy 2022.
Sicily & Rome 2025
- REVIEW | Brussels Airport Diamond Lounge at A-Gates.
- REVIEW | ITA Airways Business Class Brussels to Rome.
- ROME | Afternoon tea at Hotel Hassler Roma on top of the Spanish Steps.
- REVIEW | Trenitalia Intercity Notte in Superior (Excelsior) Class.
- SICILY | Neapolis Archeological Park of Syracuse.
- SYRACUSE | Ortygia.
- REVIEW | Boutique Hotel Caportigia Syracuse.
- SICILY | Catania.
- ITALY | Trains in Sicily.
- REVIEW | NH Palermo.
- SICILY | Palermo Cathedral.
- PALERMO | Palazzo dei Normanni, the Royal Palace of the Normans in Sicily.
- PALERMO | Palazzo Butera in the Kalsa neighbourhood.
- SICILY | Palermo.
- SICILY | Syracuse – Catania – Palermo + Agrigento – Taormina – Cefalù.
- REVIEW | Trenitalia Intercity Notte in Deluxe Class.
- ROME | Exploring EUR or Esposizione Universale Roma.
- REVIEW | Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese.
- REVIEW | ITA Airways The Hangar Lounge Rome.
- REVIEW | ITA Airways Business Class Rome to Brussels.
- ITALY | Rome and Sicily.
Some tourism statistics
- 8.7 billion rail trips in Europe in 2024 as Switzerland leads and Belgium’s data remain unavailable.
- NORWAY | Tourism breaks record with 40.6 million guest nights in 2025.
- NETHERLANDS | Rising international visitor numbers, domestic travel showed signs of stagnation in 2025.
- Taiwan tourism rebounds, Belgian market recovers, but cost pressures and geopolitical risks shape outlook.
- CURAÇAO | Tourism records for 2025, with 11,500 travellers from Belgium.
- International tourism to the United States continues to slide in 2026.
- Morocco records historic tourism year with 19.8 million visitors in 2025.
- Flanders continues to grow as a tourist destination with over 15 million visitors in 2025.
- Greece sets new tourism records in 2025 with nearly 38 million visitors.
- Thailand happy with Belgian visitor numbers and welcomes Tomorrowland festival.
- Belgian travel stats to the United States continued to decline throughout 2025.
- Is Greece too popular? 2024 tourism statistics raise overtourism concerns.
- TRAIN TRAVEL | European Union records 429 billion passenger-kilometres in 2023 but domestic travel still dominates.
- 5 million passengers flew from and to Brussels Airport in summer 2025.
- BELGIUM | Flemish museums attracted more than 4.8 million visitors in 2023.
- Belgium sees modest tourism growth in 2024, led by Flanders and Brussels.
- Travel in 2024: Spain, France, USA, China, Mexico lose ground and Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, UAE to grow market share.
- France, Spain, USA, China and Italy most visited countries in the world, Belgium 41st.
- France welcomed 100 million international visitors in 2024.
- Turkey welcomed 62 million international tourists who together spent $61 billion in 2024.
- SPAIN | 94 million international visitors and €108.7 billion tourism income in 2024.
- UN WORLD TOURISM BAROMETER | International tourism recovers pre-pandemic levels in 2024.
- Outside the EU, Europeans mostly travel to Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
- Intra-European travel mostly for fun and / or family.
- Europeans visit other European countries over 7 nights on average.
