Number of visitors to the Colosseum archaeological park in Rome 2012-2022

The number of visitors to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill archaeological park in Rome bounced back in 2022, recovering from the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. After declining to under 1.1 million with the onset of the health crisis, attendance at the Colosseum exceeded 9.8 million in 2022, making it the most visited tourist attraction in Italy that year.

Have tourist attractions in Italy recovered from the impact of COVID-19?

Rome’s Colosseum, one of the most iconic historical buildings in the world, plays a prominent role in supporting the Italian tourism industry. In 2022, the Roman amphitheater ranked first among Italy’s museums, archaeological areas, and similar cultural institutions based on income. That said, while the Colosseum's income exceeded pre-pandemic levels, that was not yet the case for other renowned attractions, such as the archaeological site of Pompeii and the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. Overall, even though the total number of visitors to state museums in Italy experienced a sharp annual increase in 2022, it did not catch up yet with the peak in attendance reported in 2019.

Inbound tourism in Rome during the COVID-19 pandemic

Rome is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. In 2022, the number of international tourist arrivals in Rome’s accommodation establishments reached just under five million, tripling over the previous year but staying below pre-pandemic levels. When looking at the leading inbound travel markets in Rome, travelers from the United States recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals in the Italian capital in 2022, ahead of British and French visitors.