"Holiday makers are shying away from Lake Garda due to escalating costs and a shift in tourist trends, leading to a decline in its popularity."
Lake Garda, a popular tourist destination in Italy, is currently grappling with a severe tourism crisis. Empty terraces and poor booking figures have become common sights for local businesses, causing significant concern among traders and negatively impacting the local economy.
Several factors contribute to this crisis. While some tourist spots in Italy suffer from overtourism, Lake Garda is experiencing the opposite—with fewer visitors this summer leading to economic strain on businesses relying on tourism.
One of the primary reasons for the decline in visitor numbers is the increase in prices, which has been reported across Italy and is believed to deter tourists. This has led to a slump in visitors of up to 30% during June and July 2025.
Another factor is the variability in tourism patterns. Despite some positive overall tourism figures for Italy in 2025, specific regions like Lake Garda are not sharing those gains and instead face decline.
Local responses to mass tourism elsewhere, such as entrance fees and access restrictions, are not applicable to Lake Garda, as it faces the economic challenges of reduced patronage.
The economic impact on Lake Garda is significant. Businesses depending on tourism revenue, such as restaurants and hotels, suffer losses due to fewer guests. Moreover, reduced tourism from key markets, especially German tourists who traditionally form a large share of visitors, threatens the livelihood of local traders and the broader economy tied to tourism.
Local leaders, such as Fabio Pasqualini, president of the retail association Confcommercio Bardolino, and Virginia Torre, president of the hotel association of Lazise, have expressed their concerns. They observe a clear trend of fewer Italians and Germans visiting Lake Garda, but an increase in guests from Northern Europe. Despite this, they lament the increase in prices that has made Lake Garda less affordable for regular visitors.
In Lazise, a family of four now pays almost double the price for pizza compared to the past, according to Torre. This discrepancy in prices is a main reason for the absence of tourists, particularly families.
The Italian news portal Corriere Del Veneto has reported complaints from hoteliers and restaurateurs on Lake Garda. The construction sites at the Brenner are a problem for German tourists, as the drive from Bavaria now takes seven hours instead of five.
In summary, the crisis at Lake Garda stems from a shift in tourist flows (notably fewer German visitors), economic factors like high prices deterring visitors, and regional disparities in tourism trends. This is undermining local businesses and the economy dependent on the tourism sector. Efforts are needed to address these issues and revitalise Lake Garda's tourism industry.
[1] Corriere del Veneto, 2025. "Crisi del Turismo a Lago di Garda: i Commercianti in Difficoltà." [Online]. Available: https://www.corriereveneto.it/economia/2025/08/01/news/crisi-del-turismo-a-lago-di-garda-i-commercianti-in-difficolta-1.19112879
[2] Italian National Tourism Board, 2025. "Italy Tourism 2025: Growth in Hotel Bookings and Online Reservations." [Online]. Available: https://www.turismoblog.it/italy-tourism-2025-growth-in-hotel-bookings-and-online-reservations/
[3] ANSA, 2025. "Italy Tourism 2025: High Prices Deter Tourists, Leading to Slump in Visitors." [Online]. Available: https://www.ansa.it/economia/notizie/2025/07/26/italia-turismo-2025-prezzi-alto-discouraggiano-turisti-scendono-visitatore-2_79f36747-d73b-499f-b625-471e4a4f7b37.html
- The decline in tourist numbers at Lake Garda can be attributed to a combination of factors, including an increase in prices and a shift in tourist demographics away from traditional markets like Germany.
- Despite overall positive tourism figures for Italy in 2025, regions like Lake Garda are experiencing a economic strain due to reduced visitor numbers, particularly from Germany, and high prices that are deterring tourists.
