Italy’s Ministry of Tourism has officially published a new €109 million funding decree aimed at supporting the tourism sector through innovation, sustainability and the promotion of year-round travel.
The programme includes €59 million in non-repayable grants and €50 million in subsidised loans to support energy-efficiency upgrades, digital transformation and the modernisation of tourism facilities. The initiative is designed to encourage tourism beyond the traditional peak season, helping to spread visitor flows more evenly throughout the year while improving the energy performance of tourism businesses.
Invitalia has been appointed to manage the scheme, overseeing applications, project assessments and the distribution of funding.
Grants and subsidised loans
The scheme provides:
- non-repayable grants covering up to 30% of eligible costs, with a maximum contribution of €4.5 million;
- subsidised loans covering up to 70% of the investment.
Eligible projects must range between €1 million and €15 million in value. Businesses may also request an advance payment of up to 30% of the grant awarded, subject to a bank guarantee or insurance policy.
Who can apply
The initiative is open to a wide range of tourism-related businesses, including hotels, holiday resorts, agritourism operators, campsites, beach establishments, B&Bs, restaurants, glamping sites, marina resorts, wellness centres, theme parks, entertainment venues and conference organisers.
Companies not included in the specific ATECO categories listed in the decree may also apply, provided they have been operating within the tourism sector for at least three years.
Eligible projects
Funding will support initiatives related to:
- energy-efficiency improvements;
- photovoltaic systems and energy storage solutions;
- smart climate-control systems;
- rainwater recovery systems;
- digitalisation and AI infrastructure;
- home automation and smart building technologies;
- the redevelopment of swimming pools, wellness centres and conference facilities;
- software, patents and equipment connected to the project objectives.
Application process
Applications must be submitted through a dedicated online platform managed by the Ministry of Tourism and Invitalia. Projects will be assessed according to their financial sustainability, technical quality and implementation readiness.
Funding will be released in stages, based on project progress and the final reporting of eligible expenditure.
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