Foreign tourists spent 4.8 bln euros ($7.0 bln) in Rome in 2006, up 12.3% compared to 2005, the Italian Foreign Exchange Office (UIC) said.
In the first eight months of 2007 tourist spending reached 3.5 bln euros ($5.1 bln), up 6.5% compared to the same period of 2006.
Tourists attracted by cultural events in Rome totalled 23 million for the period 2006-2007, up 8.91% compared to the previous season, according to a report on the Roman economy.
Every year tourist activities in Rome yield to the state budget 1.5 bln euros ($2.2 bln).
Out of every 100 euros ($146) spent, 39 euros ($57) go to the state as taxation.
Of the total spending in 2005 which amounted to almost 4.0 bln ($5.8 bln), Rome yielded to the Italian Treasury 1.549 bln euros ($2.265 bln), including 909 mln euros ($1.3 bln) from tourist spending and the rest 639 mln euros ($934 mln) from tourist services.
The most attractive destinations for cultural tourism are Rome, Venice and Milan, northern Italy, and Florence, central Italy, and all of them registered a rise in the number of visitors for the last three years.
The average stay of a foreign tourist visiting Italy totals 2.5 days.
