Tourism is growing in Sardinia: in the first eight months of 2026, tourist arrivals on the island reached 13.83 million, a 4.58% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Arrivals exceeded 3.32 million, an increase of 3.98%, while the average stay rose from 4.14 to 4.16 nights.
The data was presented by the regional councilor for tourism, Franco Cuccureddu, at the TTG Travel Experience in Rimini.
"After a 2025 season that saw record numbers compared to the previous year, the data for the first eight months of 2026 confirm that Sardinia continues to grow. This is a significant result, demonstrating our destination's ability to consolidate its achievements and strengthen its position on national and international markets. The challenge is to continue along this path, focusing on the quality of the offering, new connections, and the distribution of tourist flows throughout the year," Cuccureddu emphasized.
Looking further at the numbers, according to an analysis of Mastercard transactions, between January and September 2026, tourist spending increased by approximately 10% compared to the same period in 2025, with international customers accounting for 52% of total spending. This trend confirms the growing importance of tourism for the regional economy and for businesses related to hospitality, commerce, and catering.
Air traffic data is also positive: from January 1 to September 30, 2026, Sardinian airports recorded over 10 million passengers, a 9.25% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The increase in international passengers was particularly significant, rising by 18.96% to over 4.1 million.
Among the innovations announced at TTG, a notable one is the new direct flight between Newark, New Jersey, and Olbia, operated by United Airlines starting in May 2027. This will be the second direct flight between the United States and Sardinia, following Delta Airlines' New York-Olbia route, which carried over 29,000 passengers between May 21 and September 30, 2026.
Participation in the event kicked off with a new international recognition: Sardinia has been included for the first time in the "Where to Go" selection, among the top ten recommended destinations in the world for 2027. This prestigious award joins the "Best Destination" title awarded by Lonely Planet to Sardinia for 2026.
(Unioneonline/lf)
