Italy ranks fourth among the world’s top tourism destinations and fourth in total receipts.  At the same time, Italians consider it a national tradition to take a vacation—often outside of Italy itself. 
In 2004, 50 percent of Italians said they took at least one vacation (up 4% from 2002), while 37.8 percent took two to four vacations (down 2.5% from 2002).

Italy has a high percentage of outbound travelers.  One out of six adult Italians travels abroad every year, and all surveys indicate an increasing propensity among Italians to travel abroad. 
The United States has largely gained from the Italian outbound travel increase in 2004, showing a plus of 15% in the total number of Italian visitors.
In 2004 travel to the U.S. from Italy ranked sixth among the world’s largest markets and fourth in Europe, after the U.K., Germany and France.

Since 1997, Italy has become the sixth largest spender in international travel.  The strong euro is playing a major role in favor of outbound tourism to the U.S. and this favorable situation for Italians traveling abroad is expected to continue in the next few years.  Spending by Italian travelers abroad totaled $20.5 billion in 2004, ranking sixth in the list of worldwide tourist expenditures, after those from Germany ($71 billion), the U.S. ($65.6 billion), the U.K. ($55.9 billion), Japan ($38.1 billion) and France ($28.6 billion).  Italian tourists to the U.S. are among the largest spenders, with an average per capita daily expenditure of $126 in 2003.

In 2005, the preliminary data regarding Italian arrivals to the U.S. show an increase by over 19 percent, while a general 20 percent increase is expected for the annual data. As compared to the previous year, in 2004 Italian tourists visited an average number of 1.8 states (up 13% from 2003) and spent an average of 17 nights in the U.S. (up 49% from 2003). Although Italians are mainly individual travelers, last year a larger number bought prepaid packages, maybe due to the fact that for 37% of the total Italian visitors to the U.S., this destination was their first international trip...(continues)

The U.S. Commercial Service Italy and the Visit USA Association Italy, produced a comprehensive survey about the Tourism Sector in the U.S.A related to the Italian travel market support and perception.

The survey that you can easily download clicking on the link at the bottom of this page, offers figures, data and specific information which build up a comprehensive, global overview of the American Tourism Market in Italy.

These information can be also used to promote tourism and destinations in the U.S.,
while increasing the American Companies awareness of the business potential in Italy

Click HERE to download the complete Survey on the Italian Tourism to the U.S. 2006.

Please note:
This Industry Sector Profile is also part of the more comprehensive
ITALY COUNTRY COMMERCIAL GUIDE 2004.