- Italy counts 790 port facilities for yachting and almost 172,000 berths
- Potential daily expenditure: from €200 to €2,500 for small to medium-sized boats, rising to around €78,000 for superyachts
- Tourist expenditure ashore: from €45 to €650 per person per day on restaurants, shopping, transport and hospitality
- Costa Smeralda and the Gulf of Olbia are the leading destinations for seasonal superyachts, followed by Capri, the Gulf of Tigullio and the Amalfi Coast
- Liguria is a hub for resident superyachts: Genoa, La Spezia and the Riviera dei Fiori lead the way
- Superyachts in Italy: 9 out of 10 fly foreign flags
Genoa, 3 October 2026 – The economic impact of yachting tourism in Italy is around €5.7 billion. In 2025, operating expenditure – mooring, fuel, maintenance, storage and crew – reached €3.6 billion (63% of the total), while spending ashore – including restaurants, shopping, entertainment, transport and hospitality – amounted to €2.1 billion (37%) across the entire fleet.
These are the key findings found in the first edition of a study entitled “Yachting Tourism and Economic Contribution“, conducted by Deloitte for Confindustria Nautica – Italian Marine Industry Association, which analyses the economic impact of yachting on Italy’s coastal economies. The report was presented on Saturday 3 October in Genoa at the 66th Genoa International Boat Show, at an event attended by, among others: Edoardo Rixi, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport; Mario Zanetti, Confindustria President’s Delegate for the Economy of the Sea; Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica; Ernesto Lanzillo, Deloitte Central Mediterranean Private Leader; Tommaso Nastasi, Deloitte Strategy and Value Creation Leader; Fabrizio Palombo, President of Federagenti’s Yacht Section; Fabio Planamente, Vice President of Confindustria Nautica; Roberto Perocchio, President of Assomarinas.
Ports and berths: Liguria and Tuscany lead in superyacht facilities, while the South and the islands lag behind in the density of marinas and ports
Italy counts a total of 790 port facilities for yachting, providing around 172,000 berths. There are 7.2 facilities for every 100 kilometres of coastline (marinas and ports, excluding mooring points), compared with 9.7 in France and 7.5 in Spain. The South and Italy’s islands offer fewer facilities equipped to cater for high-spending clients, with fewer than five facilities per 100 km. Only approximately 2% of Italian berths are intended for vessels over 24 metres, with Liguria and Tuscany accounting for around half of the capacity dedicated to superyachts.
Italy attracts one in five superyachts, while the small boat segment faces a challenging period
The fleet covered by the study comprises around 82,000 vessels, 7% of which are premium yachts over 18 metres. Since 2021, the number of boats under 10 metres has fallen by an average of 3.7% a year, while the number of yachts between 18 and 24 metres has grown by 0.7% and superyachts by 3.3%. In 2025, the global superyacht fleet approached 11,000 vessels, with average annual growth of 4.1% since 2018. Around 2,200, equivalent to one fifth of the total, cruised in Italian waters.
Yachting tourism: an economic impact of almost €6 billion
In 2025, the direct economic impact is estimated at €5.7 billion: €3.6 billion (63%) in operating expenditure and €2.1 billion (37%) in tourist expenditure ashore. Superyachts account for around 3% of the active fleet in Italy but generate 42% of the direct impact of the downstream segment. Including yachts between 18 and 24 metres, premium yachts account for 7% of the fleet and 55% of the direct impact generated by yachting tourism activities. Expenditure is therefore concentrated in the high-end segment, supporting local businesses, employment and the Made in Italy brand.
“Italy’s yachting sector is a strategic asset for our country“ – comments Ernesto Lanzillo, Deloitte Private Leader. “Italy’s positioning as a premium yachting destination depends not only on infrastructure, but also on the quality of services and integration of the yachting offering with the local area. The competitive challenge is to turn traffic into value, with strategies tailored to each segment and connections with the local area that can capture spending by owners and guests”.
“Yachting is a strategic sector for Italy, both for its direct contribution to the economy and for its spillover effects on other Made in Italy and tourism supply chains“ – says Tommaso Nastasi, Deloitte Strategy and Value Creation Leader. “Making greater use of the potential that lies in the entire supply chain and yachting tourism, attracting ever more domestic and international demand, can further strengthen the global positioning of Italy’s yachting industry, generating substantial benefits for the country’s economy“.
“The value of yachting in Italy is measured not only by the boats built, but also by the jobs, services and economic activities that their presence generates along our coasts. With this study, we wanted to explore this dimension in greater depth, providing businesses and institutions with a tool to guide investment and enhance the contribution of yachting tourism to local development“ – states Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica. “Strengthening Italy’s appeal to superyachts and supporting the small and medium-sized boat segments are complementary objectives, not alternatives. Small boats, in particular, deserve attention because they offer a gateway to yachting and are essential to spreading maritime culture. Our vision encompasses all parts of the sector: adequate port infrastructure, quality services and vocational training are the areas on which we must work to improve accessibility, extend the yachting season and generate lasting opportunities for businesses and coastal communities”.
Expenditure and economic benefits
Yachting tourism expenditure comprises the operating costs of running boats and spending ashore, generating value both within the yachting ecosystem and in other sectors. Part of this expenditure remains within the yachting supply chain: mooring, fuel, maintenance, storage and crews. The rest benefits the local economy through restaurants, shopping, entertainment, transport and hospitality.
According to the estimates, average daily operating expenditure per vessel ranges from around €200 for small boats to €78,000 for superyachts. Spending ashore by owners and guests ranges from €45 to €650 per person per day. In addition, resident Italian superyachts generate an annual expenditure of around five times that of seasonal foreign vessels, while superyachts account for approximately 3% of the active fleet in Italy, generating 42% of the direct economic impact. Including yachts between 18 and 24 metres, premium yachts account for around 7% of the fleet and 55% of the economic impact.
Yachting tourism: who visits Italy and how long they stay
Among the superyachts visiting Italian waters, 93% fly foreign flags and 66% are between 30 and 60 metres long. Some 56% are seasonal visitors and 44% are resident: a balance that makes Italy both a cruising destination and a base for extended stays. There is, however, further scope for growth in expenditure throughout the year by encouraging longer stays outside the peak season through storage services, crew welfare and facilities equipped for refitting.
Each year, around 1,200 seasonal superyachts stay in Italy for an average of 23 days, visiting seven locations, with numbers peaking in the summer months. Costa Smeralda and the Gulf of Olbia are the leading destinations, followed by Capri, the Gulf of Tigullio and the Amalfi Coast. The approximately 960 resident superyachts spend an average of 193 days in Italy, spread across 8.3 months of the year, and are mostly yachts between 40 and 60 metres. Liguria is the leading hub in terms of days spent, with the Riviera dei Fiori, Genoa and the Gulf of La Spezia.
