Italy Set for a Strong Winter Tourism Season as Arrivals from Spain, UK, France, Germany, Poland, Albania, Romania, Netherlands, and Belgium Fuel a €3.5 Billion Surge Across Cities and Mountain Regions

Published on December 5, 2025

Italy is preparing for one of its strongest winter tourism seasons in years, driven by a sharp rise in arrivals from key European markets including Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Albania, Romania, the Netherlands, and Belgium. This surge in inbound demand is expected to generate €3.5 billion in spending between December and January, boosted by millions of confirmed airport bookings, accelerating travel recovery, and a balanced flow of visitors heading to both major cultural cities and high-performing mountain regions. Together, these trends highlight Italy’s expanding appeal during the holiday period, solidifying its position as one of Europe’s most sought-after winter destinations.

Italy’s tourism sector is gearing up for a vibrant winter season, with the latest estimates indicating that over 4 million foreign travelers have already booked arrivals at Italian airports between December and January, generating an anticipated expenditure of €3.5 billion. These figures reflect only travelers arriving via airports, with additional visitors expected through alternative transport channels. Domestic bookings are also on the rise, with Italians reserving over 400 flights for holiday travel, signaling robust demand across both international and local markets.

December 2025 is projected to see 2.4 million international airport arrivals, marking a 6.1 percent increase compared to last year’s Christmas season. This upward trend is expected to extend into January 2026, with 1.9 million arrivals already confirmed, reflecting a 4.4 percent growth over January 2025. Such performance positions Italy ahead of nations like France and Turkey, second only to Spain, as a top European winter destination.

Italy’s Ministry of Tourism reports a multi-centric and diversified travel pattern for the upcoming holiday period. Nationally, online travel agency (OTA) bookings account for 35.7 percent of total accommodation, indicating strong digital engagement among travelers. Mountain regions are driving year-end demand, achieving a 46.6 percent OTA booking rate. Trentino-Alto Adige leads with 48.36 percent, followed closely by Valle d’Aosta at 45.7 percent and Umbria at 40.18 percent. These regions are attracting visitors seeking winter sports, alpine retreats, and scenic landscapes.

Cultural hubs and major cities remain magnets for tourists, particularly Lazio, with over 1.6 million OTA bookings, and Lombardy and Veneto, both exceeding one million bookings. Meanwhile, southern Italy is showing a promising rise in popularity. Regions such as Calabria (+6.7 percent), Molise (+5.7 percent), and Basilicata (+4.2 percent) are seeing significant growth, reflecting a rebalancing of tourist flows and an increased interest in emerging destinations.

Among the international markets, Spain leads in arrivals with 611 recorded at Italian airports, followed by the United Kingdom with approximately 585, France at 328, and Germany at 308. Visitor numbers from Poland, Albania, Romania, the Netherlands, and Belgium are also growing, highlighting Italy’s appeal across a broad spectrum of European travelers.

Major Italian cities continue to dominate as holiday destinations. Milan tops the list with 1.6 million airport arrivals, closely followed by Rome with 1.2 million. Venice attracts nearly half a million visitors, while Naples and Bologna round out the most sought-after destinations. This concentration underscores the continued allure of Italy’s art, culture, cuisine, and historical landmarks during the festive season.

These strong booking trends reflect not only Italy’s enduring international appeal but also its growing domestic travel momentum, reinforcing the country’s position as a global leader in winter tourism. As Italy welcomes millions of visitors over the holiday period, the tourism sector is poised to benefit from both economic gains and the broader promotion of regional destinations across the country.

Italy’s winter tourism outlook reflects a powerful combination of rising international demand, strong domestic travel activity, and balanced regional growth across both cultural hubs and alpine destinations. With millions of confirmed arrivals and spending projected to reach €3.5 billion, the country is entering the holiday season with renewed momentum and a widening appeal among travelers from every major European market. As cities continue to draw culture-seekers and mountain regions lead seasonal occupancy, Italy’s tourism sector is not only strengthening its recovery but also diversifying visitor flows in ways that support long-term sustainability. This winter marks a decisive step forward, reinforcing Italy’s position as a premier global destination poised for continued expansion in the year ahead.