Monthly number of Italian outbound tourists 2018-2021

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit the global tourism sector hard in 2020 and 2021, with countries having to restrict international travel to limit the spread of the virus. In Italy, the number of outbound tourists dropped sharply in March 2020 over the monthly figures of the previous two years, reaching a total of 1.6 million. In April 2020, this figure decreased further, as just 826 thousand Italian tourists traveled abroad. In December 2021, the volume of outbound tourists totaled roughly 1.7 million, denoting a substantial increment over the same month of 2020 but remaining way below pre-pandemic levels.

Most popular transports and accommodations for outbound trips from Italy

In 2020, most trips by Italian outbound tourists were made by plane. While using the car was another popular way of traveling abroad, trains were less commonly used for outbound trips. In terms of accommodations, most Italian outbound trips included hotel stays in 2019. However, homes of friends or relatives were the most popular accommodations for trips abroad during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020.

Main reasons why Italians travel abroad

In 2020, most Italian tourists mainly traveled abroad for pleasure or leisure purposes. Moreover, participating in cultural activities and enjoying the local natural beauty were other important reasons for traveling abroad that year.