Nautical tourism already impacts the Italian economy by billions, targeting a large segment of tourists, often high spenders. And it can grow much further. In 2023, more than 3 million people took boating vacations in Italy, spending more than 6 billion euros in the area.

The nautical tourist is a special, prized tourist, who brings in an average daily expenditure that averages 150 euros per day: almost double the 85 euros spent on average by vacationers disembarking from cruise ships, a segment of tourism that is celebrated today but has a much greater environmental impact than boating.

Research estimates that in ten years, with the presence of a coordinated plan of interventions, the turnover of nautical tourism in Italy could almost double to over 10 billion euros.

In Italy the Ministry of Tourism has included nautical tourism in its Strategic Plan 2023-2027 also to finally promote ports and marinas as convenient and at the same time useful access points for the discovery of the surrounding territories.

Tourists around the world are on the hunt for vacations that are above all experiences to remember, perhaps visiting famous places-and Italy has topped the World Tourism Organization's rankings for years as a favorite destination for travelers from around the globe-in which to do something unique. And a vacation by boat is in itself something special and fascinating. There is no shortage of examples already: such is the case with the booming Cinque Terre where foreign tourists are standing in long lines to try even one-day vacation experiences but rightly considered unparalleled.

Nor should it be forgotten that there is tourism and tourism, now that one of the most debated issues in the travel industry is that of so-called “overtourism.” That is, the invasion of guests and travelers in the most beautiful tourist locations, but which due to its characteristics as a mass phenomenon more than bringing economic benefits brings confusion and consumes natural (especially) and artistic resources.

And instead Italy should become a favored destination, even from this point of view, for high-spending tourism, as it is mainly foreign tourism, though not only of course.