Puglia, aumento degli arrivi e sold out a Taranto per i Giochi del Mediterraneo

The tourist season in Puglia saw a 5.9% increase in arrivals and a 6% increase in July, while the first half of the year recorded a strong positive trend with a 7.6% rise in arrivals and a 7.7% increase in stays compared to the same period in 2025. Taranto emerged as a leader, with a 2.8% increase in arrivals in the first six months and a July performance above the regional average at 6.6%, accompanied by a 4.8% rise in stays.

International tourist expenditure in Puglia reached 206 million euros in the first quarter, growing by 89 million from 2024 and 59 million from 2025. In the first six months of 2026, Puglian airports handled 5.71 million passengers, a 10.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, international tourist expenditure in the region hit 206 million euros, a strong growth of 89 million from 2024 and 59 million from 2025.

The Taranto port grew from 314 passengers in 2015 to 126,708 in 2025, an impressive 40,000% increase, solidifying its role in Italian cruise tourism. Taranto is prepared for the 20th edition of the Mediterranean Games, which run until September 3rd. "The sports event, which has already sold 100,000 tickets, will bring 4,000 athletes from 26 nations, engaged in 33 disciplines, with the participation of 3,000 volunteers and 600 accredited media representatives," said Gianmarco Mazzi, the Minister of Tourism.

This event, combining sports, promotion, and territories, offers a remarkable opportunity to showcase Taranto and Puglia, promoting their cultural, landscape, and gastronomic heritage, and reinforcing the attractiveness of the Mezzogiorno and Italy. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism's Statistics Office, Puglian accommodation facilities are 56.7% saturated, a 6.9 percentage point increase compared to the same period in 2025.

The Taranto accommodation system is completely booked, leading to the arrangement of two moored hotels in the port to accommodate athletes and delegations. These numbers, the MiTur underlines, "reconfirm the attractive capacity of major events, always important traffic magnets, as well as the value of sports tourism: a sector estimated at over 12 billion euros, in constant growth, capable of generating more than 42 million visits."