Months after restricting the recognition of Italian citizenship, the government decided to turn its attention to the approximately 80 million people of Italian descent scattered around the world.
But this time, the interest seems to have less to do with historical ties and more to do with the economic potential of an audience that drives tourism, culture, and consumption linked to Italian identity.
Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister, and Matteo Piantedosi, Minister of the Interior, anticipated in Avellino the new pilot project for Roots TourismThe initiative seeks to strengthen the connection between Italy and its global diaspora and precedes the national presentation scheduled for November 21 in Rome.
Connection with Italians abroad
The proposal aims to bring those who live far from their hometowns closer together. Farnesina states that Roots Tourism intends to strengthen family, cultural, and territorial ties. The strategy also seeks to encourage travel to villages and small communities, where the stories that form the identity of millions of descendants are preserved.
Part of the PNRR
Since 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has coordinated the PNRR (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza, Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan) initiative dedicated to Roots Tourism. Printed and digital guides with itineraries in various regions of the country have been developed. An agreement with RAI (Italian National Television) provides for twenty television episodes dedicated to Italian municipalities linked to the history of immigration.
Tajani's statement
During the event in Avellino, Antonio Tajani stated that the initiative will have a broader reach. He said that “on November 21st, in Rome, we will show how this model will be extended to other municipalities and regions of Lazio and Apulia.” The minister emphasized that the return trip should be a cultural experience accompanied by appropriate services.
The weight of 80 million descendants
Italy estimates that more than 80 million people worldwide have some degree of Italian ancestry. Most live in Latin America and North America. For many, Roots Tourism represents an opportunity to reconnect with family traditions and rebuild ties with villages and towns that are part of their personal history.
By relaunching the program, the government is targeting this global community. The strategy seeks to transform emotional interest into cultural projects and local development, strengthening the bond between Italy and its descendants.
