Descrizione 1
Giovanni Finocchiaro, Silvia Iaccarino
This indicator measures Italy's dependence on international tourism markets, particularly long-distance markets, to assess the environmental impact associated with long-haul travel.
As a global tourism destination, Italy is influenced by the distances tourists travel to visit it. Aviation plays a crucial role, significantly contributing to CO2 emissions, which are further exacerbated by the increasing number of tourist arrivals.
Between 2015 and 2019, the tourism sector experienced continuous growth, with the ratio between domestic tourists and those from distant countries remaining stable. This trend was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
However, in 2022 and 2023, the sector showed a strong recovery, with the territorial distribution of tourists from distant origins returning to pre-pandemic levels.
This indicator is part of the environmental dimension of the European Union Tourism Dashboard and measures Italy’s dependence on long-distance international markets.
Countries of origin are considered distant if they are located 2,000 km or more from the destination.
A high indicator value implies a potentially greater environmental footprint due to long-haul travel emissions.
To assess this, the number of overnight stays in accommodation facilities (tourist presences) from long-distance visitors is analyzed, as their travel impacts both infrastructure and CO2 emissions.
To illustrate the potential environmental impact caused by tourism from long-distance international markets.
This indicator is not associated with any specific regulatory requirements.
Descrizione 2
https://tourism-dashboard.ec.europa.eu
Qualificazione dati
http://dati.istat.it/ "Movimento dei clienti negli esercizi ricettivi - dati annuali"- Paese di origine.
National, Regional
2015-2023
Qualificazione indicatore
The indicator is calculated based on the number of overnight stays in accommodation facilities (tourist presences) by foreign tourists from distant origins.
Countries are considered distant if at least 50% of their territory is located 2,000 km or more from Italy's geographical center. Additionally, the overnight stays of tourists from closer distances (<2,000 km) and domestic tourists are also recorded.
In 2023, total tourism in Italy reached 447.2 million overnight stays, marking a strong recovery from the pandemic years.
However, the growing share of overnight stays from tourists traveling more than 2,000 km—which reached 13.5% of the total—represents a critical environmental factor (Table 1, Figure 2).
These long-haul trips, mainly by air, substantially contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the overall environmental impact of the tourism sector.
While domestic and short-haul tourists contribute less to transport-related emissions, Italy’s dependence on long-distance travelers suggests a higher ecological footprint.
The current challenge is balancing the influx of long-haul tourists with the need to mitigate environmental impact, promoting more sustainable travel options.
Between 2015 and 2019, the proportion of tourists from distant countries gradually increased from 12.4% to 13.7% (Table 1, Figure 1).
This trend was economically positive but environmentally negative due to the impact of long-haul flights, which significantly contribute to CO2 emissions.
In 2020 and 2021, due to pandemic-related restrictions, this share plummeted to 3.9% and 3.6%, respectively, leading to a temporary reduction in tourism-related transport emissions.
With the rebound of tourism in 2022 and 2023, the share increased to 9.8% and 13.5%, returning to pre-pandemic levels.
This recovery suggests a long-term trend toward greater dependence on distant markets, with potentially harmful climate and environmental effects, as air travel remains a major contributor to global emissions.
However, the trend is classified as stable/intermediate, with a negative tendency, since the rising share of long-haul tourists reflects an economic recovery but also increasing environmental pressures due to aviation emissions.
Dati
Table 1: Tourist arrivals by distance from country of origin
ISPRA processing based on ISTAT data
Distance is calculated from the center of Italian territory to the center of the country of origin. There are three categories: Italy, countries less than 2,000 km from Italy, and countries more than 2,000 km from Italy.
Figure 1: Distribution of tourist arrivals by distance from country of origin
ISPRA processing based on ISTAT data
Figure 2: Share of tourist arrivals by distance from country of origin
ISPRA processing based on ISTAT data
Figure 3: Tourist arrivals from distant origins (>2,000 km) (2023)
ISPRA processing based on ISTAT data
In 2023, the number of foreign tourists increased by over 33 million compared to 2022, reaching 234.2 million overnight stays.
Of these:
This distribution indicates a moderate dependence on distant markets, with a share returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Regions such as Lazio, Campania, Lombardy, and Tuscany continue to attract a significant percentage of long-haul tourists, further contributing to the environmental impact of international travel (Figure 3).
To reduce tourism’s environmental footprint, it is essential to promote domestic tourism and encourage more sustainable transport options, such as train travel for intra-European trips.