Tourism Decline in Agrigento: Messina (Assoturismo) warns

Tourism down in Agrigento: first-quarter assessment

The province of Agrigento has seen a notable drop in arrivals and bookings in the early months of 2026, despite its title as Capital of Culture. In an interview with AgrigentoNotizie, Vittorio Messina (national president of Assoturismo and regional president of Confesercenti) outlined a worrying scenario for the local hospitality sector.

Data from January–March show declines in both the domestic and international markets, with clear effects on hotels and short-term accommodations.

Factors behind the decline

• Rising costs of basic goods leading households to cut non-essential spending.
• Geopolitical instability reducing travel propensity among some foreign markets.
• Adverse weather conditions affecting nearby tourism and discouraging bookings.

Messina notes that although the summer season may bring a partial recovery in arrivals, what was lost in the first quarter will be difficult to recover in full.

Suggested measures to support recovery

• Coordinated, structured programming of cultural and tourist events to spread visitor flows throughout the year.
• Enhancing lesser-known sites and attractions across the province to create new visitor routes.
• Investing in service quality and staff training to improve visitor experience and encourage repeat visits.
• Supporting projects that lengthen average stays and promote off-season offers.

The outlook calls for coordinated action among private operators, trade associations and local authorities to turn current challenges into cultural and economic development opportunities. Operators hope the summer season will help recover some ground, though losses from the first quarter are likely only partially reversible.

Source: AgrigentoNotizie (interview with Vittorio Messina)