by InTrieste
Tourism in Friuli Venezia Giulia has reached a new milestone this year, surpassing 10 million overnight stays by October — two months earlier than in previous record years. Regional officials say the growth reflects sustained investment in promotion, events and infrastructure.
“This year’s results mark structural, not episodic, growth,” said Governor Massimiliano Fedriga during a presentation of the data in Trieste, where he appeared with Regional Tourism Councillor Sergio Emidio Bini and representatives of PromoTurismoFVG.
All sectors and destinations across the region reported increases. Gorizia, buoyed by its upcoming role as European Capital of Culture 2025, recorded a 25 percent rise in stays — the strongest proportional growth among the region’s cities. Pordenone saw an increase of 12.8 percent, followed by Udine (+10.5 percent), Trieste (+9.1 percent) and the region’s UNESCO sites (+2.1 percent). Fedriga emphasized that planning is already underway for Pordenone’s title as Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2027, aiming for benefits that “extend to the entire region.”
Upcoming events are expected to strengthen this trend. The Women’s Alpine Ski World Cup races in Tarvisio, scheduled for January 17–18, have already sold 70 percent of available tickets and are projected to generate more than 4,000 overnight stays in the lead-up to the competition. It was also confirmed that regional mountain areas will host pre-Olympic training camps for the Italian and Swedish national teams.
Fedriga said the region is preparing to intensify its tourism promotion efforts. “In the coming years, our marketing campaign will surpass every other Italian region in scale and innovation,” he said.
The summer season (May through September) closed with approximately 8 million visitors, a 6 percent increase compared with 2024. The region’s major cities experienced a combined rise of nearly 13 percent. Bini noted the strong return of Austrian travelers, who accounted for 20.4 percent of total stays, followed by German visitors at 16 percent. Italian tourism also increased: stays by Italians in Grado rose 17.9 percent year-on-year and in Lignano by 3.2 percent, contributing to overall increases of 7.5 percent and 1.4 percent respectively.
“But we don’t intend to stop here,” Bini said. “We plan to raise the bar even further.”
Winter tourism is also poised for another strong season. Last winter, the region recorded more than 900,000 first entries to ski areas, with a 10.7 percent increase in skiers and a 12 percent rise in ticket sales. Presales for the upcoming 2024–25 season have already exceeded €1.5 million, a 9 percent increase from last year, according to PromoTurismoFVG director general Iacopo Mestroni.
Ski areas will open on December 6, except for Sella Nevea, which will begin operations on December 13. Daily ski passes remain among the most affordable in the Alps — €44 for a full-price day ticket and €10 for visitors under 19 — with additional discounts for families and students. This season will also see the inauguration of the new Gilberti chairlift in Sella Nevea on December 16 and updated night lighting on the Prampero slope in Tarvisio. Reduced-rate programs for families, students and people with disabilities will remain in place.
Despite the strong numbers, Fedriga noted that demand for accommodations continues to exceed supply. Positive signals, however, are emerging: the region recently closed a call for proposals to develop new four-star-and-above hotels, receiving 14 applications representing €100 million in private investment, according to Bini.
