Tourism in Italy

The small country of Italy hosts something in the neighborhood of 37 million tourists every year, so it is not surprising that tourism is one of the country’s biggest contributors to the economy. Italy ranks among the top five tourist destinations worldwide. So, just what does Italy tourism mean?

Tourism in Italy is about the cities and towns you will visit, the hotels and hostels and agriturismi you will stay in, the restaurants and cafes you will dine in, and the activities you will enjoy. But Italy tourism is about much more than a boost to the local economy, it is about how effective the country is at showing off its best points and making a visit easy. It is about giving tourists access to hidden gems without spoiling daily life for residents who do not fancy themselves the subject of multiple photographs. Ultimately, the goal of Italy tourism is to make the tourist want to stay longer than their trip will allow, and return for another trip later.

Even without the most basic tourist infrastructure, Italy would be well on its way to encouraging a kind of rapturous love on the part of visitors. It is breathtakingly beautiful, historically significant, full of amazing art and architecture, a food and wine lover’s paradise… The list goes on. Thankfully, however, tourists to Italy are not forced to find their way between sights on their own. Tourism is so critical to the Italian economy that sights are well-marked and tourist information offices are prevalent (though it can be challenging to find cheap airfare to Italy!). Still, this is Italy we are talking about - one of its biggest “crops” might just be red tape - so it does not hurt to do some reading in advance and maintain a flexible attitude toward travel through il Bel Paese.

Planning the Perfect Itinerary
To begin with, it is a good idea to get some really good basic information about Italy. Next, you can check out the “official” Italy tourism websites set up and run by the Italian tourism industry (outlined below). With that kind of background information, you can now begin planning your trip. After doing some reading, you should have an idea of what will be easy to do and what will be more challenging, so just decide how much of a challenge you are up for before you begin!

Plot out your dream itinerary from start to finish and then, when it turns out to be way too much to pack into one trip (believe me, I have been there) you can begin to cut back. Only you know which sights are your “must-see” items - the sights you would feel cheated if you came home without seeing - so start at the other end of the scale. Little by little, you will eventually get to your ideal Italian vacation. And for the things that do not make the cut this time around, just remember - you will go back. The Italy tourism machine is so well-oiled that you will not know why, but you will need to go back. Really, there are worse fates than a return trip to Italy, right?

Italy’s Official Tourism Websites
The official Italy tourism website, relaunched in early 2007 with a new (and controversial) logo, is not only pretty, it is full of useful information. The content changes throughout the year, so if you are planning a trip be sure to check back a month or two in advance to see what is new and what might be appropriate to your Italian holiday. There is a listing of events taking place in Italy, information about how to plan your trip, a weather forecast, suggested itineraries, information about train travel and air travel, and even a “time machine” so you can see what was happening in Italy in various points in history. It is a very user-friendly site (with some awkward translations in the English version) which provides a good basic overview of what Italy tourism is all about. The Italian Government Tourism Board has a separate website; it can also be useful in researching travel in Italy.

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