by InTrieste
Interview: FVG governor, Massimiliano Fedriga
The city of Gorizia is experiencing a remarkable upswing in tourism during the first months of 2025, fueled by its role as a European Capital of Culture. Officials reported a 20 percent overall increase in visitor numbers compared to 2024, with foreign tourists surging by an impressive 64 percent.
Regional Tourism Councillor Sergio Emidio Bini highlighted the exponential growth coming from neighboring countries: Austrian visitors rose by 273 percent, Slovenian by 127 percent, Croatian by nearly 70 percent, and arrivals from the United Kingdom more than doubled, with over 500 visitors recorded in the period.
“This strong momentum is the result of extensive promotional efforts tied to Go!2025, the city’s cultural programming, which itself builds on a longer-term trend,” Bini said at a press conference. “Tourist numbers in Gorizia have doubled over the last five years.”
The capital of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region and its surrounding areas, including Monfalcone and the Collio wine region, have become increasingly popular, reaching half a million tourist stays in 2024—a 6.8 percent increase over the previous year and a 31.6 percent rise since 2019.
Domestic tourism is also on the rise, with notable visitor increases from Italian regions across the country. Abruzzo reported a 114 percent rise in arrivals, Umbria 52 percent, Sicily 24 percent, and Tuscany 14 percent in early 2025. Meanwhile, accommodation capacity in Gorizia has expanded by more than 25 percent in just five months, growing from 743 beds in January to 1,018 in May.
Bini pointed to the city’s rich cultural calendar as a key draw, with over 28,000 visitors passing through the historic Gorizia Castle from January to May—nearly double the number from the same period last year. The blockbuster exhibition Andy Warhol: Beyond Borders has attracted over 60,000 attendees, underscoring the city’s rising international profile.
“This summer, world-renowned concerts and a host of cross-border initiatives will further enhance Gorizia’s appeal,” Bini added. “The Go!2025&Friends program aims to spread this cultural energy throughout the entire Friuli Venezia Giulia region.”
Looking ahead, regional authorities plan to issue a new call for investment in four-star and higher hotels in the second half of 2025, with Gorizia among the targeted areas to sustain long-term growth fueled by its newly acquired prominence.
In tandem with these developments, Gorizia has launched an updated tourism website, scopri.gorizia.it, designed to provide visitors with timely information tailored to the Go!2025 initiatives.
As the European Capital of Culture spotlight shines on Gorizia, the city is not only attracting more visitors but also cementing its status as a vibrant cultural hub on the continent.
