South Tyrol is booming: record overnight stays and discover hidden insider tips!

South Tyrol is booming: record overnight stays and discover hidden insider tips!

South Tyrol is becoming increasingly popular as a holiday region and has developed into one of the top destinations in Italy. With picturesque mountain landscapes, delicious wine-growing regions and traditional meals such as dumplings and Kaiserschmarrn, the region is attracting more and more visitors. According to the State Institute for Statistics (ASTAT), the number of guests in South Tyrol rose from around 330,000 in 1950 to over 8.7 million in 2024, which corresponds to an impressive increase of around 2,500 percent. The number of overnight stays has also experienced a significant increase from 1.82 million in 1950 to more than 37 million in 2024, an increase of 1,930 percent. This shows how much tourist interest in the region has grown, especially in the last few decades.

An analysis of overnight stays since 2003 shows that arrival numbers are increasing faster than overnight stays, indicating shorter stays. Merano used to be the most popular holiday destination in the region, recording around 350,000 overnight stays in 1950 and accounting for 20% of all overnight stays in South Tyrol. But those days are over: Merano was overtaken by Selva di Val Gardena in the 1990s, followed by Castelrotto, which has taken the lead since the 2000s and reached a record 1.78 million overnight stays in 2024.

Current records in tourism

The 2022/23 tourism year set new standards, with over 8.4 million guests booking at least one overnight stay in South Tyrol. Overall, the number of overnight stays rose to over 36 million, which is another record. Currently, 11,747 accommodation establishments offer 241,624 beds, with 64% of the beds in hospitality and 36% in non-hospitality establishments. Overnight stays from both within Germany (10.6 million) and from Germany (17.4 million) have increased significantly.

Particularly noteworthy is Castelrotto, which offers the largest selection with 9,487 beds. In addition, the quality index for South Tyrol shows a positive trend with a value of 4.3. The majority of guests still come from Germany, with 48.3% of total overnight stays. There is also strong growth internationally, particularly among guests from Asia, the USA, Italy, Slovenia and other countries.

Challenges and price dynamics

But in addition to the positive figures, there were also challenges last year, such as an explosion in the price of toilet paper, which caused discontent among residents. This suggests that not only the tourism industry, but also the local population has to contend with economic pressures. While Neumarkt recorded a 52.2 percent decline in overnight stays between 1990 and 2024, it remains to be seen how the industry will develop in the coming years.

Overall, it can be said that South Tyrol is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Italy, which scores points with both its unique natural experiences and diverse cuisine. The record numbers of overnight stays show that the region is still very attractive despite the challenges.

Further information on developments in tourism in South Tyrol can be found at derwesten.de and suedtirolnews.it.