Tourism boom in South Tyrol: Overnight stays in the record high!

Tourism boom in South Tyrol: Overnight stays in the record high!

Meran, Italien - The tourism sector in South Tyrol has undergone unprecedented development in recent decades. According to the hna in 2024 has exceeded the mark of 8.7 million, an increase of over 2500 percent 330,289 Arrivals in 1950. This is a clear indicator of the growing popularity of the region, which is particularly required by Italian tourists. The overnight stays also rose drastically, from 1.82 million in 1950 to more than 37 million in 2024, which corresponds to an increase of 1930 percent.

It is particularly noteworthy that arrivals have increased faster than overnight stays since 2003. This indicates that vacationers are increasingly booking shorter stays in South Tyrol. While Merano was still the most popular holiday region in 1950 - with almost 350,000 overnight stays and a market share of 19 percent - the landscape has now changed. In 1990 Merano still had the most overnight stays, but the market share had fallen to 4.8 percent.

trend towards shorter stays

The trend on shorter stays that has been observed since 2003 means that some municipalities have gained popularity in recent years. Kastelruth has taken over the top position in the overnight stays since 2002 and recorded a record of 1,780,424 overnight stays in 2024. This makes Kastelruth the top of the overnight congregation in South Tyrol.

Wolkenstein in Val Gardena, which took the lead in the overnight stays in the 1990s, also benefited. In contrast, Neumarkt experienced a significant decline in overnight stays between 1990 and 2024, which fell from 48,876 to 23,345 overnights - a minus of 52.2 percent.

economic importance of tourism

Tourismus Councilor Luis Walcher emphasizes the economic advantages of tourism for South Tyrol. At a time when tourism is booming, he emphasizes the need for responsible development. Walcher demands a balance between the needs of the population and the expectations of the guests. The challenges due to the rush of holidaymakers are countered with a strategic planning in order to preserve the quality of the habitat in this popular region.

Overall, the development of tourism in South Tyrol shows persistent growth and a strong attraction of the region. Over the past few decades, the interest in this alpine destination has been increasing continuously, while at the same time the claim to sustainable tourism is growing.