Italian Museums See Record Attendance After Green Pass Introduction

Italian museums experienced a surge in visitors following the introduction of the Green Pass, with 4 million visits recorded from May to August 2021. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage reported a 155% increase compared to the previous year, driven by domestic tourism and international travel recovery. Despite pre-pandemic levels not being fully reached, August numbers showed significant growth after the Green Pass mandate. Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini stated that the pass made visitors feel safer, boosting ticket sales by over 150%. Notable increases include the Colosseum (+156%), Uffizi (+46%), Pompeii (+20%), Paestum (+30%), National Archaeological Museum of Naples (+79%), Royal Museums of Turin (+25%), and Castel Sant'Angelo (+78%). Proximity tourism also benefited institutions in inner areas. The Green Pass is now required for long-distance travel as well.