Tourism is a major engine for the Italian economy because people all around the world see this country as the ideal place for a holiday, where art and culture, fine cuisine, agreeable climate and hospitality services are second to none.
With more than 39,8 million tourists a year Italy is the fourth most visited country in the world, behind France (77), Spain (51,7) and United States (41,9). There are famous places like Venice, Florence, Siena, Milan, Naples or Rome, each with a rich cultural heritage from the Roman Empire. Famous objects are the ruins of Pompei, the Capitole, vineyards in Tuscany, Sicily with Mt. Etna, the coastline of the Adriatic Sea or the Alps.
Receipts for the travel and tourism sector account for 2.2% of GDP (the total value of all goods and services produced within that territory during a specified period). The destination that attracts most foreign currency is once again the province of Rome (3,708 million euros, - 24.7% vs. 2001), which has suffered primarily on account of the fewer American and Japanese visitors. Among the other big cities that are favorites with tourists, Milan (2,704 million euros, -2.0%) and Florence (1.971 million, -10.0%) saw a decline in their foreign currency receipts whereas Venice (2,303 million, +2.5%) and above all Naples (984 million, +13.9%) reported increases. …
