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The numbers demonstrate extraordinary growth: in a hundred years, Italian hotel occupancy increased from 32 million to 288 million, and to 535 million (RPT and up to 535 million) including non-hotel accommodations. The real turning point came in the 1960s with the economic boom and the expansion of transportation infrastructure, which opened tourism to ever-larger segments of the population. Only the 2020 pandemic interrupted this growth, with a drop of more than 50%, which was quickly recovered in the following years.
At the same time, the composition of demand has changed: while until a few decades ago Italian tourists predominated, today foreigners represent 55.3% of total visitors, compared to 33.6% in 1990. This evolution has been facilitated by the expansion of air connections and the spread of low-cost airlines, which have made Italy an even more accessible destination.
Tourism continues to be a key component of the national economy: according to the Tourism Satellite Account—a statistical tool used to measure the sector's true contribution to the economy—in 2023, the sector generated a direct contribution of 5% of GDP and a further 4.6% through indirect effects on other economic activities, from restaurants to transportation, from trade to services.
