No European capital has recorded a greater increase than the Eternal City in terms of stays and tourist visits. Extraordinary result” comments councilor Onorato
Rome European Champion of Tourism. In fact, the Capital is at the top in the special ranking drawn up by CityDNA’s City Travel Report which in its 20th edition showed how the Eternal City has achieved constant growth in European urban tourism.
“The umpteenth significant confirmation—this time from the most important association representing the main European DMOs—of the winning strategy that, together with Councillor Onorato, we have been implementing since taking office. Rome today offers even more to visit, with new museums, rediscovered magnificent sites, and major sporting, musical, and cultural events. We will continue on this path to ensure the Capital increasingly rises to the challenge of balancing these extraordinary waves of tourism with the daily lives of Roman citizens,” commented Mayor Gualtieri.
Specifically, the report examined 117 European cities, showcasing the progress made in the post-pandemic era, including sustainability strategies related to estimates of CO2 emissions from urban tourism transport.
According to the study, Rome recorded a 45.2% increase, outperforming other capitals such as London at 32.1% and Vienna at 30.6%.
“This report is the perfect illustration of a fruitful collaboration among European destinations. It highlights significant trends, notable challenges, qualitative KPIs, and key market dynamics that are shaping the urban travel landscape in relation to domestic tourism,” emphasized Barbara Jamison-Woods, President of City Destinations Alliance.
“It’s extraordinary,” admits Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s Councillor for Sport, Tourism, Fashion, and Major Events, who adds, “These are incredible numbers that generate enormous economic benefits for the city and thousands of new jobs. It confirms how Rome has become the most sought-after tourist destination in Europe. This success is the result of the strategies we’ve implemented with Mayor Gualtieri, leveraging the promotion of major events to transform our city into a dynamic and welcoming destination where there’s always something attractive to do and see, every day of the year.
In 2023, Rome set a record for tourism, with 50 million overnight stays, a record we will surpass in 2024, given that in the first half of the year, overnight stays increased by 4.89% and arrivals by 6.5%. Additionally, the average stay of visitors in the Capital, historically 2.3 nights, has risen and stabilized at 4 nights.
Having brought Rome back among the world’s leading metropolises, we now face a new challenge: making this tourism truly sustainable for Romans and the city.”