Here are some of the most up-to-date statistics about Venice travel & tourism, including the number of annual visitors and the impact of overtourism.
Nicknamed the City of Canals, the picturesque terrain and architecture of Venice are reason enough for the city’s popularity among tourists.
There are many awesome things about it, from the scenic gondola rides and historic bridges to festive carnivals.
But did you know that there were 5.5 million total arrivals in Venice in 2019?
However, Venice is also suffering from overtourism as its population plummets and water level rises.
Are you looking to understand more about this beautiful Italian city?
Take a look at these statistics below about Venice travel and tourism.
Let’s dive right in!
Sources: I’ve attached the source article or data under each statistics. Feel free to head over to the end of this article for a full list of all the sources used.
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Before the pandemic, in 2019 specifically, there were a total of 4.8 million international tourist arrivals in Venice.
How much of Venice's economy is tourism?
It is estimated that tourism contributes to 2.3 billion euros for Venice’s economy.
Is Venice one of the most visited cities?
In 2021, Venice was the second most visited municipality in Italy at approximately 5.7 million overnight stays, after Rome.
Who visits Venice the most?
Tourists from Europe make up 39.3% of all tourist arrivals in Venice. Meanwhile, the USA contributed 844 thousand arrivals, or 15.3% of the overall figure in 2019.
Venice Travel Statistics Overview
There were 1.4 million international tourist arrivals in Venice in 2021, increasing from 0.92 million in 2020.
Overall, the combined domestic and international tourist arrivals in Venice were 2.1 million in 2021, still well below the peak of 5.5 million in 2019.
A 2015 student paper states that Venice spends 74.4 million euros on its tourism industry per year. In exchange, it generates around 2.3 billion euros in revenue.
There are 1,126 hotels in Venice as of 2021, a slight decrease from the 1,187 establishments recorded in 2020.
Venice is the city with the third highest number of chain hotels in Italy, after Rome and Milan.
There are a total of 7,275 Airbnb listings in Venice, Italy in December 2022.
During peak season, there can be up to 110,000 tourists visiting historical Venice per day, far exceeding the mere 55,000 residents living there.
Based on occupancy, the busiest month for international visitors in Venice is July (1,275,129 nights in 2019), while the least busy month is January (456,457 nights).
Overall, in 2017, planes made up the majority (53%) of all arrivals in Venice.
In 2021, cultural institutions in Venice welcome approximately 421 thousand visitors.
Inbound tourism in Venice
How many tourists visit Venice each year?
1. There were 1.4 million international tourist arrivals in Venice in 2021, increasing from 0.92 million in 2020.
[Statista]
2. However, international tourist arrivals in Venice have yet to recover to the pre-pandemic level of 4.8 million in 2019.
3. Overall, the combined domestic and international tourist arrivals in Venice were 2.1 million in 2021, still well below the peak of 5.5 million in 2019.
[Statista]
4. In 2021, Venice was the second most visited municipality in Italy at approximately 5.7 million overnight stays.
5. The number has increased by 58% from the 3.56 million overnight stays in 2020, but still well below the 12.9 million in 2019.
[Statista]
Although Venice is seeing a steady recovery from the pandemic, with a 58% increase in number of overnight stays from 2020, it has still yet to regain its pre-Covid-19 levels.
6. Out of the total number of overnight stays in Venice in 2021, 3.8 million were made by international visitors.
[Statista]
Venice tourism demographic
Who visits Venice the most?
7. According to the City of Venice’s 2019 Yearbook of Tourism, excluding Italy, Europe represents the largest slice of tourist arrivals (39.3%).
15. The number of domestic tourist arrivals in Venice was 730 thousand in 2021.
[Statista]
This has risen by 75% from the 416 thousand domestic arrivals in 2020.
16. The leading domestic tourist market for Venice is Lombardy, with a total of 167 thousand arrivals recorded in 2021.
[Statista]
Impressively, this figure actually surpassed the pre-pandemic levels.
17. Visitors from Lombardy recorded 376 thousand overnight stays in 2021, also the most out of all other regions in Italy.
[Statista]
18. In 2021, there were roughly 1.9 million overnight stays in Venice by Italian visitors, up from 1.1 million in 2020 and almost catching up to its 2019 figure.
[Statista]
Overall, domestic tourism in Venice is recovering much faster than international tourism. Perhaps this is because domestic travel is still much easier in the post-pandemic era.
19. In 2021, inbound tourist arrivals in Venice travel accommodation establishments made up 58% of the city’s tourists. This is lower than the 77% proportion back in 2019.
[Statista]
This means that, as of 2021, domestic tourists account for 42% of all tourist arrivals in Venice.
Contribution of tourism to Venice economy
How much of Venice's economy is tourism?
20. A 2015 student paper states that Venice spends 74.4 million euros on its tourism industry per year. In exchange, it generates around 2.3 billion euros in revenue.
[WPI]
21. There are more than 400 400 gondoliers in Venice. The job is some of the most well-paid ones in the city, with an annual salary of up to £95,000.
[The Independent]
22. Casinò di Venezia made a revenue of 50.4 million euros in 2021, an cinrease from 42.3 million euros in 2020 but still well below the pre-pandemic revenue of 82 million euros in 2019.
[Statista]
The Casinò di Venezia is one of the only three casinos in Italy as of 2020.
23. Meanwhile, the casino's net income was almost 205 thousand euros in 2021.
[Statista]
Once again, this is a rise from its 50 thousand euros net income in 2020.
24. State museums in Venice made 1.5 million euros in income in 2021, higher than the 972 thousand euros earned in 2020 but still lower than the 2019 figure of over 3.24 million.
[Statista]
Hotels in Venice statistics
How many hotel are in Venice?
25. There are 1,126 hotels in Venice as of 2021, a slight decrease from the 1,187 establishments recorded in 2020.
[Statista]
26. In 2021, specifically in Venice’s city center, there were 523 travel accommodations in total, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, and other alternative establishments.
[Statista]
Again, this is a slight drop from the 570 recorded properties in 2020.
27. The number of hotel beds in Venice has also decreased to just 97 thousand in 2021, the lowest since 2016 and the biggest decline over the last ten years.
[Statista]
28. Although hotels in Venice has overall decreased between 2020 and 2021, the number of chain hotels has increased, from 63 to 73.
[Statista]
This suggests that the decline in number of hotels in Venice are mostly independent hotels, and not chain hotels.
29. Venice is also the city with the third highest number of chain hotels in Italy, after Rome and Milan.
[Statista]
30. As of November 2022, the most expensive city to stay in a four-star hotel was Venice, at 169.5 euros per night.
35. On average, accommodation establishments in Venice on Airbnb cost 184 euros per night.
[Statista]
36. There were 32,000 non-hotel accommodations recorded in Venice in 2021.
[Statista]
This is a decline from the 35,000 non-hotel establishments in Venice in 2020 and the peak of 40.7 thousand back in 2018.
Venice overtourism statistics
How does Venice deal with overtourism?
37. During peak season, there can be up to 110,000 tourists visiting historical Venice per day, far exceeding the mere 55,000 residents living there.
[EuroNews]
38. This is worrying because the local population just 30 years ago had been over 120 thousand. Demographers predict that the figure could fall to zero by 2030.
[The Independent]
The declining population in Venice is mostly due to the surging living cost and prices.
39. Overnight tourists to the historic centre of Venice have to pay up to €5 in city tax per night. However, this is already included in the accommodation nightly rate.
[EuroNews]
40. Meanwhile, as of January 2023, daytrippers to Venice are expected to pay between €3 and €10 to enter the historical centre as a way to combat overtourism.
[EuroNews]
Residents, students and commuters are exempt to the Venice tourist tax.
41. As of March 2023, there are 2,815 properties listed on Booking.com located in Venice.
[Booking.com]
Booking.com is one of the largest online platforms to book travel accommodations and it has 2,815 total listings in Venice.
Venice travel trends and insights
When do tourists usually visit Venice?
42. Based on occupancy, the busiest month for international visitors in Venice is July (1,275,129 nights in 2019), while the least busy month is January (456,457 nights).
[City of Venice]
43. The trend is slightly different for domestic tourists from Italy, with the busiest and least busy months being April (189,376 nights) and January (128,711 nights) respectively.
[City of Venice]
44. In 2019, there were 14.8 million recorded passenger movements by air, which includes both arrivals and departures.
[EuropeForVisitors]
Passenger movements also include everything from tourists and residents to business travellers.
45. Of those, 11.6 million used Venice Marco Polo Airport while the other 3.2 million used Treviso Airport.
[EuropeForVisitors]
46. Water transportation is also popular in Venice, with 1.8 million total of passenger traffic through the Port of Venice in 2019.
[EuropeForVisitors]
47. This includes 1.6 million by ocean cruises, 101,708 by ferries, 93, 858 by hydrofoil, and 15,796 by river cruises.
[EuropeForVisitors]
48. Overall, in 2017, planes made up the majority (53%) of all arrivals in Venice.
[EuropeForVisitors]
49. Train comprises 27% of all arrivals, which makes sense considering the popularity of rail travel in Europe.
[EuropeForVisitors]
50. Meanwhile, 16% of arrivals in Venice in 2017 was made by cars and motorcycles.
[EuropeForVisitors]
51. More than 9 in 10 respondents in a survey (94%) by the City of Venice claimed that they intended to return.
[City of Venice]
Tourism activities in Venice
What is the most visited place in Venice?
52. There are 10 state museums, monuments, and archeological sites in Venice that have paying entrances, the most within the region of Veneto.
[Statista]
53. In 2021, those cultural institutions in Venice welcome approximately 421 thousand visitors.
[Statista]
This is massive compared to the second province in Veneto with the highest attendance, with only 5,288 visitors in Padua’s museums, monuments, and sites.
54. As of 2021, there were around 1,900 bars and restaurants in Venice.
[Statista]
55. Cruise passenger movements in Venice almost hit 30,000 in 2021, much higher than the previous year but still accounting for 2% of the 2019 figure.
[Statista]
56. Most tourists to Venice would stay in the historic center, with 3.5 million guests recorded in 2019, each staying an average of 2.51 nights.
[EuropeForVisitors]
Summary
For so long, Venice has been one of the hottest destinations worldwide.
If you’re a solo traveller planning your next epic Italian trip, Venice is a must on your itinerary.
Even if you’re just looking to understand more about Venice’s tourism, hopefully you found these statistics useful.
looking for the next place to work from or simply want to understand more about Rome, we hope these statistics are helpful.
Let us know in the comments if we missed any interesting facts about Rome’s travel industry!
In the meantime, you might enjoy these other stats:
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I'm an Economics graduate with a passion for travel. In 2016 I decided to ditch the office environment, work from my laptop and travel to every country in the world. You'll find me working out of a cafe in Bali, perhaps on a riverboat in Brazil or maybe even an airport lounge in New Delhi.
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