BOLOGNA (ITALPRESS) – Riviera close to the sold out and thousands of hikers in Appennines: Ferragosto confirms the attraction of the tourist offer of Emilia-Romagna, from the Costa to the mountain. To certify it are the first data processed by the Regional Tourist Observatory: the occupancy of the rooms reached between 90% and 95% on the Riviera. Places crowded also in Appennino: Iat offices full of tourists, sold out in the accommodation facilities of Corno alle Scale (Bo) and Cimone (Mo), with the chairlifts of the Modena area that from June have transported to the top 17 thousand people.
The good performance of Ferragosto confirms a summer season that continues to give positive results. After a growing July, between 1% and 3% of attendance compared to the same month of 2025, August starts to close on levels altogether in line with those last year, with good prospects for the second part of the month.
“The Ferragosto confirms the strength of the tourist offer of Emilia-Romagna, from the Riviera to the Apennines, and the good trend of the summer season after a July that has recorded results in improvement regarding 2025”, emphasize the president of the Region, Michele de Pascale, and the regional council of Tourism, Roberta Frisoni.
“We are particularly pleased with the good performance of the Riviera, the very positive signs that come from the Apennines and the growth of the international component, supported also by the strengthening of air links and new flights to important European markets. In perspective also the development of the Cruise Terminal of Ravenna will significantly increase the degree of internationalization. These are the results that tell the solidity of a sector that represents one of the engines of the development of Emilia-Romagna and the value of the work done every day by enterprises, tourist operators, local administrations and from all the territorial system to make our region increasingly attractive. It is on this ability to make a system that is also the foundation of the strategy that we are carrying out to make Emilia-Romagna an increasingly accessible, international and competitive destination throughout the year. We have all the conditions to consolidate these results even in the coming weeks – continue president and councillor -: the calendar of great events, from the Rimini Meeting to sporting events, will help to maintain high the attraction of the coast and to extend the season. The goal remains to grow not only in numbers, but in the quality of supply and in the ability to generate value for enterprises, workers and territories”.
According to the first tourist data processed by the Regional Tourist Observatory on the basis of the platforms of the Tourism Data Hub of Apt Servizi Emilia-Romagna, July has recorded on the coast an increase of presences in the accommodation structures between 1% and 3% regarding last year. To support the trend of the month contributed the calendar of major events and events on the territory and the strengthening of air links with the main international markets.
Particularly significant is the result of the International Airport of Rimini and San Marino “Federico Fellini” which in July exceeded, for the second consecutive month, the threshold of 100 thousand passengers, with an increase of 72% regarding 2025. This confirms the strengthening of the international component, particularly from Poland and Germany, the latter also favoured the new link with Cologne. It also records for Bologna Marconi Airport, which closed July at 1,136.375 passengers, with an increase of 3.0% on the same month of 2025.
It is the best month ever for the Bologna airport. August also looks positive for the Riviera. Reservations already recorded are around 70% along the entire Emilia-Romagna coast, while estimates indicate a final employment of over 80%. The week of Ferragosto has already confirmed expectations, exceeding the threshold of 90% occupied rooms.
To support the flows in the second half of the month will contribute the Meeting of Rimini, which this year will be characterized also by the historical visit of Pope Leo XIV, with an expected call of Italian and international visitors. Even in the following weeks, great events will help to extend the tourist season. Among the events of major interest, the Itf Beach Tennis Sand Series in Cesenatico (1-6 September), the Italian Bike Festival (4-6 September) and the Grand Prix of San Marino and the Riviera of Rimini del MotoGp (11-13 September), both scheduled at the Misano World Circuit, Dominate the Water in Cattolica (19-20 September) and the Ironman in Cervia (17-20 September, with the race clou Saturday 19), with ricadute attese Positive indications also come from the analysis of tourist spending.
The data of GeoSpending Insight, the Mastercard platform that monitors the purchases made in accommodation, catering, business, entertainment and other services, confirm that in the first six months of 2026 Germany and Switzerland were the main foreign markets for tourism spending on the Riviera. Germany accounts for 23.5% of the total expenditure of foreign visitors, followed by Switzerland (11.6%), Austria (5.2%), the United Kingdom (4.8%) and the Netherlands (4.3%).
Overall, the markets in the North and Central Europe generate more than half of the international tourist spending on the Riviera.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
