https://www.facebook.com/reel/2318152588960883
martedì 10 novembre 2026
'Between' and 'among' - what's the difference?
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/it/grammatica/grammatica-britannico/between-or-among
https://www.terminologiaetc.it/2018/07/09/uso-traduzione-among-between/
https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=11243
https://www.englishpractice.com/quiz/exercise-11/
http://www.focus.olsztyn.pl/en-exercises-prepositions-test-9.html#.X_Lg99hKjIU
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/between-versus-among?p
https://www.scribbr.co.uk/frequently-confused-words/among-or-between/
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/shorts/between-vs-among-grammar-shorts/
https://www.practisingenglish.com/english-grammar-exercises/preps-among-between.htm
domenica 8 novembre 2026
Further EU enlargement and further integration among the existing EU member states
EU enlargement
https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/enlargement-policy/eu-enlargement-forum-2026_en
https://thegoodlobby.eu/what-will-shape-the-eu-in-2026/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dLT_u41uPQ
https://newunionpost.eu/2026/10/23/eu-western-balkans-summit-2026-brussels/
In November 2026, further European Union integration
faces severe structural, geopolitical, and internal political strain. While the
European Commission has aggressively pushed its 2026 Enlargement Package,
establishing detailed roadmaps for frontline candidates like Montenegro,
Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine, the path toward deeper integration is blocked by
several critical challenges.
1. The Geopolitical and Enlargement
Dilemma
The EU is walking a tightrope between a
"merit-based" approach and the urgent geopolitical need to expand
amid regional instability.
- The
"Gradual Integration" Model: To bridge
the gap between candidate readiness and full membership, the EU has
introduced a new model of gradual integration (e.g., offering early access
to the Single Market and the Single Euro Payments Area). However, critics
argue this creates an unstable "associate membership" tier that
could halt progress to full integration permanently.
- Uneven
Reform Pace: According to the European
Commission's assessments, while Montenegro aims for full 2028 accession,
progress remains deeply uneven in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and
Kosovo due to institutional crises and anti-European rhetoric.
- The
Security Challenge: Integrating new candidates
requires addressing hybrid threats, cyberattacks, and intense Russian
disinformation campaigns targeting some of the bloc's Eastern members and
neighbors.
2. Institutional Governability and the
Veto Impasse
Expanding the Union to 30+ members without changing
how Brussels makes decisions threatens to paralyze the bloc.
- Veto
Vulnerability: The requirement for unanimity on key
foreign policy, tax, and budgetary decisions means that further
integration is highly vulnerable to internal blackmail by individual
member states.
- Safeguard
Clauses: Member states are actively debating
strict "safeguard clauses" for upcoming Accession Treaties.
These clauses would allow the EU to reverse integration or temporarily
limit the voting rights of new members if they backslide on democratic
standards.
3. Financial Strain and the Next MFF
(2028-2034)
Deepening integration—especially absorbing war-torn
Ukraine—requires a massive financial overhaul.
- The
Budget Rewrite: Negotiations are intensifying
surrounding the next Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF). Analysts from
groups like the European Policy Centre (EPC) warn that
integrating Ukraine's massive agricultural and transition needs will require
a completely different EU budget deal, likely forcing current
net-recipient countries to become net-contributors.
4. Fragmented Strategic Autonomy and
Defense
Despite the push for a unified European defense
posture, national interests continue to fracture collective military
integration.
- Procurement
Resistance: The Commission's flagship defense
projects (such as a proposed European space shield) face heavy resistance
from major member states who argue that large military initiatives should
remain strictly under national or NATO control, rather than ceding power
to Brussels.
5. Migration and Internal Political
Polarization
The rise of right-wing and populist governments across
Europe is reshaping core integration policies, turning solidarity into
friction.
- Migration
Fractures: Following the rollout of the EU Pact
on Migration and Asylum, internal divisions have deepened. Several nations
are pushing to externalize migration by building "detention return
hubs" in non-EU partner states, a move facing pushback from member
states like Spain and severe criticism various human rights organizations
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/summary/treaty-on-european-union-joining-the-eu.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_criteria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctUHROng_gQ&t=314s
https://www.epc.eu/events/enlargement-package-2026-roadmaps-reforms-and-gradual-integration/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlargement_of_the_European_Union
https://www.epc.eu/publication/Strategic-Options-for-Europes-Future-First-NPE-Report-24be40/
old but still relevant
https://euneighbourseast.eu/news/publications/eu-accession-negotiations-state-of-play-2026/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_enlargement_of_the_European_Union
Conditions for Accession to the EU
In 2026, opposition to proposed reforms, based on
introducing new restrictions to the EU accession process—rather than total
rejection of expansion—centers on a group of seven member states known as the "Friends
of the Western Balkans," which are pushing back against these restrictive
proposals from Germany, France, and the Benelux countries.
Countries Opposing the Franco-German/Benelux
Enlargement Restrictions
The coalition of seven countries rejecting fast-track
tiers and what is seen as ‘second-class’ membership, and new political
pre-conditions includes Italy, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Greece, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Background of the Disagreement
The Proposal:
In mid-2026, a Franco-German and Benelux diplomatic paper proposed restrictive
legal safeguards, strict rule-of-law requirements, and temporary voting/veto
rights limitations (such as denying temporary veto rights on foreign policy and
taxation) for future member states like Ukraine, Moldova, and Western Balkan
nations to prevent a single state blocking EU decision-making (drawing lessons
from past Hungarian vetoes).
The Opposition:
The "Friends of the Western Balkans" group rejected these ideas,
arguing that safeguard mechanisms must be transparent and based on existing
rules rather than creating "second-class membership" or new political
barriers for countries like Montenegro, Albania, and others moving towards accession.
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-germany-propose-gradual-eu-integration-candidate-countries/
https://carnegieendowment.org/europe/research/2026/05/eu-integration-without-ratification
Further integration among the existing EU
member states
The discussion around further integration among
existing EU member states (often referred to as internal deepening) centers on
how the 27 member countries can strengthen cooperation, streamline
decision-making, and adjust their internal policies to cope with geopolitical
shifts and the prospect of future enlargement.
Key challenges for nternal EU integration
- Internal
Policy Reviews and Governance: Following the
European Council's mandate, the European Commission released its
pre-enlargement policy reviews ("Preparing for a wider Union")
focusing on four core areas: EU values, common policies, the multi-annual
budget, and institutional governance.
- Strategic
Sectors: Efforts to deepen internal ties
focus heavily on cross-border and sovereign capabilities, including energy
grids, transport connectivity, the digital single market, and joint
European defense initiatives.
- Asylum
and Migration Reform: The operational rollout of the
EU Pact on Migration and Asylum (taking effect through 2026) introduces
mandatory solidarity mechanisms and coordinated border screenings among
member states.
- Differentiated
Integration ("Multi-speed EU"):
Because member states have varying political and economic capacities,
practical integration often proceeds via subsets of countries—such as the
Eurozone or Schengen area—allowing groups to move forward without facing
full unanimity deadlock.
- Debates
on Sovereignty: Parallel political debates—such as
those highlighted during forums like the European Conservatives and
Reformists (ECR) gatherings—feature ongoing counter-discussions from
member states advocating for a stronger role for national sovereignty
versus centralized federal powers.
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/internal-reforms-of-the-eu/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_integration
And here are some of the things the EU
says it is doing, althouh really this is a list of things it is trying to
do or plans to do in the future if members agree:
To maximize economic competitiveness, financial
sovereignty, and geopolitical security, the current 27 European Union member
states are actively pursuing deeper internal integration across several key
areas:
1. The Savings and Investments Union
(Capital Markets Union)
Building an integrated financial single market to
rival the United States is the primary internal integration project.
- Supervisory
Centralization: Transferring direct oversight of
systemic trading platforms, post-trading infrastructure, and crypto assets
to the European
Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
- Capital
Mobilization: Harmonizing regulations to channel
an estimated €11 to €35 trillion in European household savings away from
stagnant bank accounts and directly into high-growth corporate
investments.
- Post-Trading
Harmonization: Deploying unified collateral
management and standardizing messaging formats (e.g., the Eurosystem
Collateral Management System) to eliminate cross-border transaction
frictions.
2. Defense and Strategic Autonomy
Prompted by global geopolitical shifts, the EU is
integrating its security capabilities, bypassing traditional national divides.
- Industrial
Alignment: Integrating the continent's
fragmented defense-technological bases through tools like the European Defence Fund (EDF).
- Strategic
Technology Focus: Coordinating joint procurement
and supply chains for crucial sectors including aerospace, quantum
computing, and advanced microelectronics.
3. Green and Digital Transitions
The EU is deepening single market rules to enforce
uniform environmental and technology architectures.
- Energy
Grid Interconnection: Creating a truly pan-European
energy single market by standardizing cross-border infrastructure,
hydrogen networks, and green energy distribution.
- Digital
Infrastructure Integration: Driving common
standards for AI regulation, cybersecurity protocols, data spaces, and
high-performance computing networks.
4. Fiscal Capabilities and Common Debt
Following the blueprint of the NextGenerationEU
pandemic recovery package, deeper economic integration is targeting joint
funding mechanisms.
- Common
European Safe Assets: Proposals to issue permanent,
joint EU securities to fund large-scale transnational infrastructure.
- Strategic
Investment Financing: Using shared borrowing to
bridge the multi-billion euro funding gaps required for transition
technologies and long-term economic security.
5. Institutional and Decision-Making
Reforms
To prevent political gridlock within the current bloc,
institutional frameworks are being streamlined.
- Qualified
Majority Voting (QMV): Pushing to expand QMV to areas
traditionally requiring absolute unanimity, specifically in common foreign
policy, intermediate regulatory frameworks, and elements of corporate
taxation.
- Vanguard
Frameworks: Utilizing "enhanced
cooperation" mechanisms that allow sub-groups of willing member
states to integrate faster even if some of the 27 members choose to opt
out.
Earler
https://jpinyu.com/2025/03/17/the-european-union-integration-in-the-face-of-crises/
https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3572
https://federalists.eu/resolutions-stat/resolution-towards-a-political-union/
https://www.csis.org/analysis/next-steps-eu-economic-integration
https://fondazionefeltrinelli.it/en/scopri/beyond-unanimity/
https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-opens-case-against-slovakia-over-constitutional-change-2025-11-21/
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/11/21/eu-hits-italy-over-golden-powers-rules/
https://verfassungsblog.de/hungary-transparency-law-foreign-funding/
venerdì 6 novembre 2026
The Pope's speech to the members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See
This is from January 2026 - speech format but also
good for translation.
Linking words (or conjunctions or connectors or discourse markers) and exercises
https://eslforums.com/list-of-conjunctions/
https://www.oxfordinternationalenglish.com/linking-words-and-phrases-in-english/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/parts-of-speech/conjunctions/
http://academicwriting.wikidot.com/linking-words-and-phrases
https://magoosh.com/english-speaking/the-ultimate-english-conjunctions-list/
http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar/linking-words/
http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/linking-words
http://www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/linkwd.html
http://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/lesson_contents/exercises/linking-words-ex.htm
http://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/lesson_contents/exercises/linking-words-ex-answers.htm
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2163
http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/linking-words
https://englishswami.com/linking-words/
Exercises
https://agendaweb.org/grammar/conjunctions-exercises.html
https://agendaweb.org/grammar/conjunctions-connectors-exercises.html
https://agendaweb.org/exercises/grammar/conjunctions-connectors/test-1.htm
http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cae/students/writing/linking/
https://www.flo-joe.co.uk/cae/students/writing/linking/index.htm
http://www.englishgrammar.org/linking-words-exercise/
https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b2/discourse-markers/
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/linking-words-contrast-exercise-1.html
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/linking-words-reason-exercise-2.html
http://www.english-practice.at/b2/grammar/connectives/b2-connectives-index.htm
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/grammar/4g67-linking-words.php
and lots of links to pages of exercises here:
https://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/connectives/connectives-index.htm
Italian diplomacy and emerging strategies to boost and reshape tourism to Italy - updated!
The Italian tourism sector has reached a total economic impact of €237.4 billion, accounting for roughly 13% of Italy's national GDP.
Data from the Ministero del Turismo,
ENIT, and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals that the
industry continues its post-pandemic growth trajectory:
- Gross
Value Added and Revenue: The direct and
indirect added value of the sector amounts to approximately €121.9
billion. Total tourism spending including both domestic and international
visitors is estimated between €132.7 billion and €190 billion for the full
year.
- Employment:
The tourism ecosystem supports roughly 3.3 million jobs, which represents
13.2% to 14.4% of the entire Italian workforce.
- International
vs. Domestic Tourism: Foreign visitor spending has
broken records, surpassing €57 billion to €60.4 billion. Meanwhile,
domestic tourism has seen strong engagement, with Italian travelers
spending around €43 billion internally on summer holidays alone.
- Visitor
Volume: Italy is expected to close the year
with close to 141 million arrivals and around 477 million to 548 million
overnight stays (presenze). In the first nine months alone, overnight
stays officially cleared 523 million,
https://www.btmitalia.it/en/n-a-1492.htm
L'estate 2026 per il turismo in Italia è andata molto
bene, con numeri record e una forte crescita trainata soprattutto dai turisti
stranieri.
Luglio 2026: Crescita e Dati Positivi
- Presenze
e arrivi in aumento: A luglio si è registrato un +4,4%
di presenze turistiche rispetto allo stesso mese del 2025, con oltre 4
milioni di presenze e 1 milione di arrivi in più.
- Il
traino straniero: La componente estera è
cresciuta del 6%, mentre quella italiana si è fermata a un più
contenuto +2,3%.
- Tipologie
di alloggio: Bene sia il comparto alberghiero
(+2,5%) sia l'extra-alberghiero (+6,7%).
Agosto 2026: Ferragosto e Occupazione
- Tassi
di occupazione alti: Ad agosto i tassi di
saturazione e occupazione delle strutture ricettive italiane sono rimasti
elevati (intorno al 58,5% per le stime di saturazione online), superando
in molti periodi i livelli di Francia e Spagna. Le località balneari hanno
toccato punte dell'82-85% a Ferragosto.
- Le
mete preferite: Le località di mare restano le più
richieste, ma ottimi risultati si sono visti anche nelle città d'arte
(Roma, Napoli e Venezia sopra l'80%) e negli agriturismi.
- L'impatto
dei rincari: Nonostante il bilancio positivo e
una spesa complessiva stimata attorno ai 20,4 miliardi di euro tra luglio
e agosto, si sono fatti sentire i rincari di prezzi ed energia. Questo ha
spinto alcuni italiani a optare per vacanze più brevi, gite fuori porta o
a rateizzare le spese di viaggio.
MAECI and Tourism
Italy uses tourism as a core instrument of public and
cultural diplomacy, driving billions in revenue while fostering global
goodwill. Through initiatives like the "Turismo delle Radici" (Roots
Tourism) and global campaigns like "Open to Meraviglia", the
government connects with the 80 million people of Italian descent worldwide.
Italian tourism and diplomacy are closely intertwined
through several key strategic initiatives and cultural tools:
Turismo delle Radici (Roots Tourism):
Promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI), this initiative encourages
Italians living abroad to reconnect with their heritage and visit small, remote
villages. The initiative involves hundreds of mayors and specifically targets
small and medium-sized enterprises to boost local economies.
Global Cultural Events:
Embassies, Consulates, and Italian Cultural Institutes worldwide act as the
front line for promoting Italian tourism. They host recurring thematic programs
like Italian Cuisine Week, Italian Design Day, and Contemporary
Art Day to entice foreigners with Italy's lifestyle.
Sports Diplomacy:
High-profile events such as the Giro d'Italia are utilized as
ambassadors for tourism. They showcase the country's landscapes, from major
cities to rural towns, to a global audience.
Public Diplomacy Campaigns:
Italy continuously updates its image with strategic branding. For example, the
Tourism Board launched the “Open to Meraviglia” campaign, employing
Botticelli's Venus as a modern digital influencer to appeal to younger
demographics and boost sector revenues.
L'Italia promuove il turismo
internazionale attraverso una strategia integrata gestita dal Ministero del Turismo e sviluppata
dall'ENIT - Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo. L'obiettivo è valorizzare l'intero patrimonio territoriale,
destagionalizzare i flussi e promuovere destinazioni meno note, esaltando
l'autenticità e il "Made in Italy".
Italy’s economic diplomacy and the
promotion of Made in Italy products and the Italian life-style are thus
obviously closely linked to boosting tourism to Italy.
https://www.esteri.it/en/temi/diplomazia_economica/promozione-integrata-del-sistema/
Sports tourism
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
were highly successful for sports tourism, generating a total estimated
economic impact of over €5.3 billion. The event attracted over 2.5 million
spectators with an average stay of 3 days, which resulted in €2.3 billion
driven directly by tourism spending and operational staff.
Specific successes of this sports tourism
strategy include:
Extended Tourism Revenue: Banca Ifis research reported an additional €1.2 billion in
extended tourism revenues over the 12–18 months following the Games.
Increased Connectivity: Long-haul air capacity into Milan surged, with flights from key
markets like the UAE growing by roughly 30%.
Accommodation Rates: Booking platforms recorded localized accommodation prices jumping
by up to 150% in host cities like Milan, Verona, and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Long-Term Legacy: Approximately €3 billion was injected into infrastructure and
sustainable local development, helping accelerate transport, healthcare, and
digital connectivity across northern Italy.
Religious ‘Tourism’
To call pilgrims to Rome ‘tourists’ may
seem lacking in respect but from an economic point of view, for Rome, as the
home of the Pope in the Vatican City and the centre of Catholicism, this is
clearly a key factor especially during a Jubilee year. The 2025 Jubilee
transformed Rome into a massive global attraction, drawing an estimated
record-breaking 30 to 33.5 million pilgrims and tourists. This influx caused a
massive economic boost, doubling annual tourism revenue to well over €15
billion, which significantly benefited both historical sites and newly
developed infrastructure.
The impact of the Jubilee on Rome's
tourism sector featured several key changes:
Record-Breaking Crowds: The Eternal City welcomed roughly 33.5 million visitors. This
surge was fueled by an expanded range of international markets, with
significant increases in travelers from Argentina, Mexico, Canada, and Poland.
Increased Length of Stay: The massive boost pushed average visitor stays to 4.1 nights (up
from the Italian national average of 3). Vatican-area points of interest saw a
massive 33% increase in engagement and reviews.
Urban and Luxury Upgrades: To accommodate the influx, the city underwent major restoration
works and infrastructure investments. Over ten new luxury hotels opened, and
historical areas like the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps were revamped.
Accommodation and Pricing
Shifts: While overall hotel prices remained
relatively stable, demand for rentals heavily skewed the local housing market.
Budget accommodations became particularly attractive for solo travelers and
pilgrims
The landscape of Italian tourism is undergoing a
structural transformation. Recent data from ISTAT and the Ministry of Tourism
shows that while traditional hotspots remain economic pillars, a deliberate
push toward regional diversification and experiential travel is
reshaping the entire tourism ecosystem.
Regional Performance Trends: Breaking Out
of the "Big Three"
Historically, Italy’s tourism economy has been heavily
concentrated in the "Art Cities" trifecta: Rome,
Florence,
and Venice.
However, summer and autumn data reveal a major geographical shift:
- Northern
Italy Leads Volume: The North continues to hold the
highest market share of overall overnight stays (roughly 54%),
driven strongly by the Lakes region (like Lake Garda), the Dolomites,
and business-meets-leisure travel in Lombardy and Veneto.
- Central
Italy Claims the Spending Crown: Led by the Lazio
region, Central Italy captures the highest average spending per tourist
(€820 per stay per capita), anchored by Rome's massive draw for
high-spending international travelers (especially from the US).
- The
Rise of Secondary Destinations: To combat
overcrowding, platforms and local boards have successfully funneled
traffic to emerging cultural capitals. Regions like Puglia
(Bari) and Campania
(Caserta)
have seen immense spikes in visitor satisfaction and arrivals. Even deeply
rural regions like Molise
are experiencing a wave of "undertourism" seekers looking for
villages completely untouched by industrial crowds.
Mass vs. Experiential Travel: The
Strategic Tug-of-War
The Italian tourism market is split between
high-volume "bucket list" tourism and high-value niche experiences.
|
Feature |
Mass / Traditional Tourism |
Experiential & Slow Travel |
|
Core Drivers |
Iconic landmarks (Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Milan
Duomo). |
Food & Wine, wellness, nature, and spiritual
pilgrimages. |
|
Economic Dynamics |
High volume, but plagued by real organizational difficulties
due to overcrowding and long queues. |
Higher spend-per-capita; drives long-term economic
value directly to local communities. |
|
Seasonality |
Extreme summer peaks; high seasonal saturation. |
Year-round stability; drives a flattening of the
travel calendar (destagionalizzazione). |
|
Geographic Spread |
Confined strictly to dense historic metropolitan
centers. |
Distributed into smaller municipalities and rural
farm estates (agriturismi). |
The Experiential Growth Boosters
Data provided by ENIT and Bank of Italy shows that
alternative sectors are bringing massive financial additions directly into
Italy's minor provinces:
- Food
and Wine Experiences: Generating an economic impact
boost of over +€363 million.
- Green
and Nature Holidays: Contributing an extra €405
million as travelers head outdoors for trekking and active sports.
- Wellness
and Slow Journeys: Walking tours and spiritual
pilgrimages added a combined €204 million to the rural grid.
The Destagionalizzazione Effect
The biggest victory for the experiential model is
de-seasonalization. In Rome,
for example, experiential bookings outside the main historical city center have
increased nearly eight-fold over a four-year trajectory. This means travelers
are arriving during the traditionally quiet "low season" months (like
November through January) to explore local craft hubs, culinary trails, and
autumn landscapes comfortably without the suffocating summer lines.
Milan, a mix of business, leisure and
tourism
Milan is Italy’s economic powerhouse, seamlessly
blending corporate business with world-class lifestyle and culture. As the
financial, fashion, and innovation capital of the country, it is a premier
global destination for "bleisure" (business + leisure) travel.
Business Infrastructure
- Economic
Hub: Milan houses Italy's main stock exchange (Borsa
Italiana) and leads in finance, luxury fashion, marketing, and tech.
- Key
Districts: Porta Nuova is the main modern
corporate hub, while Fiera Milano hosts massive international trade
exhibitions.
- Corporate
Culture: Interactions are highly formal and
professional. Elegant business attire is strictly expected, and networking
frequently transitions into the evening aperitivo hour.
Leisure and Networking
- Iconic
Sights: Travelers can easily visit the
Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and Leonardo da Vinci's The Last
Supper between meetings.
- Luxury
and Dining: The Quadrilatero della Moda is the
global epicenter for luxury fashion. Premium networking takes place over
local classics like Risotto alla Milanese at high-end traditional
trattorias.
Travel Logistics
- Transit:
The city is served by three airports—Linate (closest to the center),
Malpensa, and Bergamo—alongside high-speed rail at Milano Centrale.
- Getting
Around: The ATM metro and tram network is
highly efficient. Driving is discouraged due to restricted traffic zones
(ZTL).
- Corporate
Support: The YesMilano Convention Bureau
serves as the official
Policies to Manage Overtourism
Italy has introduced a variety of municipal, regional,
and national measures to manage overtourism and protect its historic centers,
natural landmarks, and local quality of life.
Venice
- Daytripper
Entry Fee: Expanded into 2025 and 2026,
charging an entry fee to the city on
peak high-traffic days (running on selected days from April to July). The
base fee is €5 if booked at least four days in advance, rising to €10 for
late bookings, backed by fines for entry without a QR code.
- Group
Size & Noise Limits: Banned large
tourist tour groups exceeding 25 people and prohibited the use of
loudspeakers by guides in the historic center.
Florence
- Outdoor
Dining & Street Bans: Banned outdoor
dining tables in the UNESCO-protected historic center (including areas
around the Ponte Vecchio) and restricted bright lighting, commercial
advertising, and plastic tarpaulins across dozens of additional streets.
- Anti-Overtourism
Plan: Implemented a 10-point plan targeting issues
like short-term rental key lockboxes and tour-guide loudspeaker usage.
Rome
- Trevi
Fountain Crowd and Access Controls: Introduced
localized crowd-management measures, including a small access fee for the
inner perimeter of the Trevi Fountain to regulate heavy foot traffic.
Capri
- Tour
Group Caps and Noise Rules: Limited organized
tour groups to a maximum of 40 people and banned megaphones and
loudspeakers, requiring guides to use wireless earpieces instead to cut
down on noise and street congestion.
Pompeii
- Daily
Visitor Caps: Implemented a strict daily limit of
20,000 visitors to the archaeological site, particularly targeting peak
days and free-entry Sundays to prevent overcrowding.
Broader Promotional & Technological
Strategies
- Diverting
Crowds ("99% of Italy"): National tourism
campaigns and local initiatives (such as Visit Italy's "99% of
Italy" campaign) actively encourage travelers to explore lesser-known
towns and regions outside the heavily congested "Big Three"
(Rome, Florence, and Venice).
- Smart
Mobility Solutions: Municipalities are increasingly
adopting on-demand public transport management platforms and local transit
software (such as Personalbus) to better coordinate tourist flows
Winter Tourism
The economic value of winter tourism in Italy
generates over €14 billion in direct spending with roughly 29.7 million winter
arrivals and 93 million total overnight stays between December 2025 and March
2026.
- Snow
economy valuation: The pure mountain snow and ski
sector alone accounts for roughly €2.7 billion to €6.7 billion annually,
heavily driven by Alpine hubs in South Tyrol, Trentino, and Valle d'Aosta Il Dolomiti.
- Domestic
participation: Around 9.1 million Italians take
winter snow or mountain holidays each year, with 75% staying in northern
regions Wall Street Italia.
[1]
- High
occupancy rate: Italy ranks first in Europe for
winter accommodation saturation, with peak holiday rates reaching 47.8%
nationwide and over 66% in top alpine provinces Ministero del Turismo.
- Daily
expenditure: Winter tourists spend an average of
€136 per day, allocating about 60% to lodging, 30% to dining, and 10% to
auxiliary services.
- Major
events boost: Landmark initiatives like the
Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics drive an extra €5.3 billion in direct
and legacy infrastructure value Sports Tourism News.
- International
growth: Foreign tourist bookings and
long-haul arrivals continue to rise sharply, offsetting minor drops in
domestic travel due to cost-of-living pressures-
- Broad
geographic spread: Beyond skiing, winter value
extends to cultural and holiday city tourism in Rome, Florence, Venice
(Carnival), and Bolzano (Christmas markets) Italia.it
https://www.italia.it/en/italy/seasons/winter
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/11-reasons-you-should-visit-italy-in-the-winter
The wider European context:
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-europes-most-visited-countries/
https://www.euronews.com/travel/2026/05/19/which-are-europes-most-visited-countries-by-tourists
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20260304-1
France leads the European rankings with over 102
million annual visitors. However, many tourists only pass through, resulting in
shorter average stays. When ranking by total overnight stays and tourism
intensity (nights per local resident), Mediterranean destinations like Spain
and Italy dominate.
Top European countries by arrivals and duration
highlight distinct travel patterns:
France: Retains the number
1 spot globally with over 100 million visitors, driven by Paris and transit
travel to the Alps or Mediterranean. However, it ranks third in total overnight
stays (approx. 472 million) because many international travelers use it as a
short-term hub.
Spain: Ranks second in
arrivals (~94 million) but first in overall European tourism nights with 513.6
million, and leads in tourism intensity (tourist nights relative to the
local population).
Italy: Secures third
place with about 65–66 million visitors and ranks second in total overnight
stays (476.9 million). Tourists tend to stay longer to explore multiple
regions.
Türkiye: Attracts over 60
million visitors, benefiting from strong cultural and coastal tourism.,
Germany and the United Kingdom:
Draw roughly 38–42 million visitors each, primarily for urban sightseeing,
business, and cultural travel
Italy is the world's premier cultural destination,
boasting a global record of 61 UNESCO World Heritage sites. While iconic hubs
like Rome’s Colosseum and Florence’s Uffizi Gallery dominate initial visits,
the modern experience blends heritage with gastronomy, local hospitality, and
off-the-beaten-path village explorations.
Core Highlights & Regions
The Art Cities:
Rome remains the undisputed hub of Italian cultural travel, housing historical
sites like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. Other major art cities like
Florence, Venice, and Milan offer deep dives into Renaissance art and modern
fashion.
Southern and Central Heritage:
Pompeii is the most visited site nationwide. Puglia offers unique Baroque
architecture in Lecce and UNESCO-protected trulli in Alberobello.
The Villages (I Borghi):
Independent cultural travel has seen a massive surge, with travelers opting to
explore the historic, less-crowded villages of Tuscany, Umbria, and Aosta
Valley.
Cultural Travel Insights
The Motive:
"Arts & Culture" remains the primary driver of travel to Italy,
accounting for nearly 35% of all visits. In fact, research from the Banca d'Italia and the Isnart-Unioncamere Observatory indicates that
up to 70% of tourists visiting Italy engage in cultural tourism or travel
primarily to cities of art. Furthermore, cultural motivation accounts for about
34.7% of all trips, making history, art, and heritage the leading drivers for
visiting the country.
Who is traveling:
Most visitors are couples (43%) and families (28%), though independent solo
travel has seen notable recent increases.
Experiences:
Beyond ancient ruins and museums, today's cultural tourists are highly focused
on food, local wine, and bespoke local tours
Why don’t more foreign tourists come to
Italy to go to sea and the beaches for their holidays (as they do in Spain)?
Tourists in Italy flock to major art cities like Rome,
Florence, and Venice because of their iconic cultural landmarks. Roughly 70% of
international tourists center on just 1% of the country's territory,
prioritizing fast-paced sightseeing over relaxing.
Additionally, Italy's iconic coastal hotspots are
expensive, highly crowded, and have limited infrastructure. Popular
destinations like the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre see millions of visitors
annually, making them logistical nightmares for quick day trips. Rather than
navigating packed buses, 7-day hotel minimum stays, and private beach club fees
(stabilimenti balneari), many travelers opt to spend their time in the
cities.
Can this be changed?
Il Ministero degli Esteri (Farnesina)
supporta la diversificazione e la destagionalizzazione del turismo italiano
promuovendo mete meno note per contrastare l'overtourism. Le strategie chiave
includono la spinta sul Turismo delle Radici, l'elaborazione di studi mirati Attrazione Flussi Turistici per mercati esteri e lo sviluppo di un turismo lento ed
esperienziale
https://italysegreta.com/overtourism-in-italy-is-a-problem/
https://www.esteri.it/en/servizi-opportunita/italiani-all-estero/turismo-delle-radici/
https://www.ministeroturismo.gov.it/
https://www.ministeroturismo.gov.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Volume_PST_Settembre_2024_web_B.pdf
https://istitutoeuropeodelturismo.it/viaggi-2026-le-tendenze-che-stanno-trasformando-il-turismo/
An example of promotional advertising for
a region, aimed at foreign tourists:
Friuli Venezia Giulia
(FVG) is rapidly becoming Italy's standout destination. For foreigners seeking
authentic experiences, it offers the Alps, the Adriatic, and UNESCO sites like
Aquileia, all within a 1.5-hour drive of Venice, but without the mass tourism.
Discovering this "best-kept secret" requires
hitting a few hyper-specific highlights:
Trieste: Start at the
stunning Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia and explore the majestic Castello di
Miramare.
The Collio Wine Region:
Famous for its world-class white wines, this area bordering Slovenia is perfect
for relaxed agriturismo stays and vineyard tours.
Mountain Escapes:
The Laghi di Fusine near Tarvisio offer pristine glacial lakes and dramatic
alpine backdrops.
Historical Gems:
Check out the Star City of Palmanova and Cividale del Friuli's Devil's Bridge
(Ponte del Diavolo
https://www.enit.it/storage/202509/20250926175436_friuli%20venezia%20giulia_cs_wttc_2025_eng.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiMTKF_LFSg
video
and for a specific town:
Sacile è
un'affascinante cittadina in provincia di Pordenone. Dubbed the "Garden of
the Serenissima" or "Little Venice," is an emerging gem in
Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Built on two islands on the Livenza River, it boasts
Venetian-style architecture, lush parks, and the 16th-century Palazzo Ragazzoni.
Located just 15 km from Pordenone, it offers an authentic, crowd-free
alternative to Venice.
Key Highlights for Travelers
Palazzo Ragazzoni:
A magnificent 16th-century building in the heart of the historic center
featuring frescoes by a pupil of Paolo Veronese.
Piazza del Popolo:
The bustling main square, surrounded by 15th-century loggias and historic
buildings, making it perfect for an aperitif.
Fiume Livenza:
The lifeblood of the city, ideal for romantic walks along weeping willows,
arched bridges, and waterways.
Il Duomo di Sacile:
A striking cathedral located on the river's edge, housing beautiful artworks.
Fazioli Concert Hall:
Located a short walk from the center, famous worldwide for its handcrafted
grand pianos.
https://www.italia.it/en/friuli-venezia-giulia/pordenone/sacile
https://www.turismofvg.it/information-about/tourist-offices/sacile-tourist-office
Il sindaco di Sacile, Carlo Spagnol, punta fortemente
sul rilancio turistico della "Giardino della Serenissima", puntando
sulla cultura e sulla valorizzazione del patrimonio storico.
Una mossa chiave in questa direzione è l'inaugurazione
del nuovo Infopoint nel cuore di Palazzo Ragazzoni, un progetto strategico che
ha visto l'Ufficio accoglienza turistica comunale integrarsi ufficialmente
nella rete regionale gestita da PromoTurismoFVG.
Per maggiori informazioni o per scoprire gli eventi in
programma a Sacile, puoi consultare i canali ufficiali del primo cittadino sul sito di Carlo
Spagnol o la pagina dedicata al turismo sul portale della Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0cbVgjlIBU
a beautiful video!
https://www.visitsacile.it/arte-storia-fede/architetture/palazzo-ragazzoni/
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