Recent data (Ecoslab, November 2023) confirms the significant tourist appeal of Lazio, driven by the attraction of Rome in particular, which was able to draw around 35/38 million visitors to its accommodation facilities in 2023; an increase also highlighted by arrivals and visits in the two-month September-October period (EBTL): in Rome there were 3.3 million and 7.2 million respectively, an increase of 25.3% compared to 2022.

These figures are set to increase, especially in view of the 2025 Jubilee. “During this,” explains Francesco Rocca, President of the Lazio Region, “the flow of tourists will reach very high numbers. Estimates predict millions more visitors than usual. We expect a significant increase not only in the city of Rome, but across the whole Lazio area. Our vision for the future of tourism in Lazio is to promote the Region as a all-round destination. Lazio offers a unique combination of history, culture, art, nature, gastronomy and tradition and is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites and two other candidates for the prestigious listing.”

The Region’s strengths are therefore numerous and contribute to making it a all-round and exciting destination. “This is an area,” notes Rocca, “where there are countless forms of biodiversity, with a wealth of excellent food, wine and culture. Lazio boasts a rich artistic, cultural and historical heritage, from Villa Adriana in Tivoli to archaeological sites such as Ostia Antica and the Banditaccia necropolis in Cerveteri: all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Region offers a variety of breathtaking landscapes, including the mountains of Monti Simbruini and Lucretili, the lakes of Bracciano and Bolsena and the beaches of the Lazio coast.”

Such a varied environment caters for all types of tourism. In particular, there is a growing demand for slow, sporty, outdoor, but also spiritual tourist experiences: “There is a growing interest in outdoor tourism and in exploring the natural beauty of the Region, with its natural parks encompassing the coast, mountains and lakes: places where you can do sports and outdoor activities. We should also mention the Cammini di fede (Faith Paths), of which the regional administration is taking great advantage.”

Promoting the Region as a whole is one of the objectives behind the Region’s participation in BIT Milano. “We will attend,” concludes Rocca “with the Lazio Chambers of Commerce to promote the excellence of the Lazio area, to attract investment and promote the economic development of the Region, to reduce seasonal differences in tourist numbers, increase the length of stay of tourists and encourage them to return. Our aim is to raise the profile of the Region, its tourism operators and the countless opportunities that it offers. With the Jubilee around the corner, there are many opportunities for growth and the Lazio Region’s aim is to fully promote a cultural, artistic and natural heritage that is unique globally.”