- Puglia tourism remains strong into September
- Beach resorts report 30pc increase in foreign guests
- Bari Airport handled 537,572 passengers in first 18 days
- Shoulder months now command 46pc of annual arrivals
- Vieste surpasses 2m total tourist presences
Puglia is continuing to attract visitors well beyond the peak summer months with beach resorts reporting a 30pc increase in foreign guests in the first part of September compared with the same period last year. Bari Airport handled 537,572 passengers in the first 18 days of the month up 12.7pc year on year with peaks of around 1,000 passengers per hour. Brindisi Airport also recorded growth of 9.8pc with hotels reporting solid bookings.
Tourism in Puglia has remained strong into September 2026 driven by a structural shift toward the shoulder season. Official data from the Puglia Regional Tourist Observatory reveals that shoulder months like April, May and September now command approximately 46pc of all annual arrivals. International and slow travellers are increasingly treating September as the optimal time to experience the region without the extreme heatwaves and dense crowds of July and August.
The coastal town of Vieste has surpassed 2m total tourist presences maintaining its position as the top tourist destination in the region followed closely by the capital city of Bari. Daytime temperatures average a pleasant 25 to 28 degrees Celsius while the sea remains highly inviting for swimming with temperatures ranging from 24 to 26 degrees Celsius in the first half of the month. Local infrastructure breathes easier as the intense wave of domestic Italian vacationers tapers off opening up parking, beach access and outdoor dining tables in major hubs like Monopoli, Ostuni and Lecce.
