Travel between Italy and the United States is moving in two different directions in 2026. Americans continue to show a strong appetite for Italy and Europe, while the number of Italians vacationing in the United States has declined significantly.
More than 10.7 million Americans traveled to Europe during the first 6 months of 2026, up 2.2% from the same period in 2025. Italy remains one of the destinations benefiting from strong U.S. demand, particularly in rural areas and regions offering food, culture and authentic local experiences.
Italian agritourism illustrates the trend. Overnight stays at Italy’s farm stays have increased 85% over the past decade, while international stays have risen 119%. Americans have been particularly important – U.S. overnight stays increased 147%, one of the strongest performances among foreign markets.
Umbria offers an especially striking example. During the first 8 months of 2026, the region recorded 2.1 million arrivals and nearly 5.7 million overnight stays. International visitors generated an estimated €196.3 million from accommodations alone.
Americans ranked first among all foreign markets, generating more than €32 million – ahead of Germany at €21.1 million, the Netherlands at €17.5 million, the United Kingdom at €16.2 million and France at €10.1 million. U.S. visitors generated approximately €9.46 million in 4-star hotels and another €5.3 million in 5-star and luxury properties.
Travel in the opposite direction has weakened. During the first 8 months of 2026, Italian tourist arrivals in the United States fell 14.4%, from approximately 694,000 to 594,000.
The figures highlight an increasingly important transatlantic tourism story – Americans are continuing to discover Italy, with destinations such as Umbria gaining particular value from their growing interest.
