Organised tourism in Italy is once again showing positive signs after months marked by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
This is the perspective that results from the Aidit Observatory - Italian Association of Tourism Distribution/ Federturismo Confindustria of July 2026 — with data anticipated by Adnkronos —, which points to 64% of travel agencies that consider summer sales stable or growing compared to the previous month. The analysis is based on a sample of 242 agencies and follows a monitoring report from June, in which the industry association criticized the "media alarmism" that harmed the travel segment.
According to Aidit, recovery is certainly real, but late. In fact, this short-term improvement does not change the assessment for the full fiscal year: only one in four agencies expects to end 2026 with results equal to or greater than those of 2025. On the other hand, about 75% of operators predict a negative annual result, with 42.1% expecting a significant drop.
The Observatory shows that only 11.6% of agencies have booking times comparable to last year. For 46% of the sample, the purchase window has shortened considerably, while 33.6% observe a clear predominance of last-minute bookings.
The most encouraging data refers to cancellations. For about three-quarters of the agencies, this is already a thing of the past, having been restricted to the most critical phase of the crisis in the Middle East. The rest of the sample reports only isolated and routine incidents. Operators also note a gradual restoration of customer confidence; Fears about the possibility of canceling trips or continuing air connections seem to have eased. However, the economic impact of transport costs – particularly airfares – remains significant: 87.5% of agencies say that price increases influence customer choices to varying degrees.
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"The data finally signals a recovery and confirms that Italians have not lost their desire to travel," Domenico Pellegrino, president of Aidit, told Adnkronos. "Dropouts are now negligible, confidence is returning and bookings are gaining momentum again."
According to Pellegrino, "The organized tourism sector has come to a standstill precisely in the months when most summer sales take place. The current recovery is positive, but it comes too late to fully compensate for the accumulated losses. Three out of four agencies still expect to close the year with results lower than those of the previous year." The reasons are clear: "Media coverage of the possible consequences of the crisis in the Middle East and jet fuel prices have fueled fears among consumers — often out of proportion to the operational reality — leading many to postpone or cancel their reservations. Currently, the market shows that the desire to travel has remained intact; It has only migrated to last-minute bookings, which limits companies' ability to plan, reduces the availability of the best options, and can make it difficult to get the prices you want. The lesson is that in times of uncertainty, there is a need for accurate, balanced and verified information, as well as expert guidance from travel agencies."
