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Giro d’Italia: a Strategic Driver for the Country

10/02/2026

The talk dedicated to the Giro d’Italia and its impact on the Country System was held today as part of the 46th edition of BIT – the International Tourism Exchange. The event was organised by RCS Sports & Events in partnership with Best Western, Official Sponsor of the Corsa Rosa.

 

A moment of discussion between institutions and companies, during which key data related to the Giro d’Italia were presented and the effects of major sporting events on territory, tourism and sports marketing were explored in depth.

 

Speakers at the talk included Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events; Sara Digiesi, CEO of BWH Hotels Italy & South-East Europe; Sandro Pappalardo, President of ITA Airways; and Ivana Jelinic, CEO of ENIT SpA. The discussion was moderated by television host and international speaker Barbara Pedrotti.

 

The talk also focused on the results generated by communication activities, ranging from television exposure to digital and social visibility, including off-race events. Particular attention was given to the importance of promotion through tools that enhance local territories, aimed at increasing the attractiveness and competitiveness of specific geographic areas, as well as to the measurement of return on investment for the many partners associated with a sporting event, supported by case studies and benchmark parameters essential for performance evaluation.

Providing a significant contribution to the analysis is the survey on the Giro d’Italia 2025 conducted by the Ifis Sport division, conceived by Banca Ifis President Ernesto Fürstenberg Fassio, with the aim of quantifying the economic return generated by the Corsa Rosa for local territories. The study confirms the Giro’s role as a strategic platform for economic and cultural enhancement of the national system and the communities involved.

 

Among the most significant data emerging from the Ifis Sport research, which also took into account the foreign start in Albania, is the increase in live spectators amounting to 2.3 million (an average increase of 4.5% compared to 2024), as well as the growth in total spending across the territories, reaching €2.1 billion when considering both direct and indirect expenditure.

 

The Giro d’Italia is an event of global interest, strengthened by the extensive reach of its stages across Italy, showcasing the country’s beauty to the world. In 2025, there were 18.4 million active foreign spectators, 18.1 million of whom followed the event through the media, with coverage in over 200 countries and 300,000 spectators attending live.

 

Beyond tourism promotion, the Giro d’Italia also generates immediate and long-term economic impact: attending the race encourages overnight stays and participation in local activities, providing a boost to tourism in Italy and to Made in Italy products. Among the live spectators of the three stages held in Albania last year, 39% attended more than one stage, 42% stayed at least one night, and 13% came from abroad. After attending the Giro, 93% stated their intention to visit Italy and purchase Italian products.

 

Finally, 74% of live spectators believe that the Giro stages in Albania represented an extraordinary opportunity for tourism promotion, while 63% also consider the Corsa Rosa to be an ambassador abroad.

From a territorial perspective, the Corsa Rosa acts as a driver of broad and diversified tourism, offering multiple types of experiences alongside attendance at the event. Total visitor presences exceeded 5.5 million, with an average daily per-capita spending of €124 among spectators.

 

Among the ancillary activities undertaken by live spectators of the Giro, nature and leisure rank first at 52%, followed by cultural and food-and-wine experiences, areas in which Italy offers true excellence. Cycling tourism accounted for 17% of visitors.

Quotes

Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events: “Moments of discussion such as today’s represent an enrichment for the Giro d’Italia and for the work we carry out, a value for the country. The estimates produced by Banca Ifis in fact confirm that the Corsa Rosa is not only a major sporting event, but a concrete tool for territorial development: its value amounts to €2.1 billion, generated by both immediate impact—namely the spending produced by spectators along the stages of the race and by the event’s organizational structure—and indirect impact, that is, the spending of those who, after experiencing the event in the host territories, return to enjoy other types of tourism experiences. This is a significant and growing effect compared to the first measurement in 2023. The Giro is no longer viewed solely as a sporting event, but as a lever for promoting the country as a whole, a responsibility we strongly feel and one that calls for careful measurement and analysis of results, through an open approach that takes into account the characteristics of our many partners, becoming increasingly central in Italy and abroad year after year. The goal is to continue working in this direction, increasing the benefits for the territories according to a circular economy model, capable of leaving lasting value even after the race has passed”.

 

Sara Digiesi, CEO of BWH Hotels Italy & South-East Europe: “The Giro d’Italia is much more than a major sporting event: it is an extraordinary accelerator for tourism and for the enhancement of local territories. With a widespread network of properties throughout Italy, we are proud to stand alongside the Corsa Rosa and to help tell, stage by stage, the richness of our country’s landscapes and cultural heritage. We strongly believe in the connection between sport, tourism, and hospitality: supporting the Giro means creating value for local communities, offering new opportunities for our properties, and inviting travelers and fans to discover Italy well beyond the duration of the event”.

 

Ivana Jelinic, CEO of ENIT SpA: “We have been partners of this event for several years and are proud of it. We believe that the Giro d’Italia is one of the iconic events of our country. It does not attract only cycling enthusiasts, but through its routes it tells the story of the territory. It showcases Italian excellence and uniqueness, helping to reveal destinations that are still relatively unexplored. The Giro is, and remains, an extremely effective tool for promoting our tourism destinations”.

 

Sandro Pappalardo, President of ITA Airways: “ITA Airways is a strategic infrastructure for the Country System: it ensures nationwide coverage, connects major tourist destinations and enables high-quality tourism flows. Our identity is deeply linked to sport, a symbol of excellence and national cohesion—from the blue of our livery to the great champions celebrated on our aircraft, through to partnerships with iconic events such as the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and the Giro d’Italia. A commitment that strengthens the Italy brand worldwide”.

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