Prepared by the Tax Incentives & Grants Team 

The Italian Ministry of Tourism (MiTur) has recently opened the application window for the new Fund for the Development of Italy’s Tourism Offering (“Green Tour”). 

The scheme aims to support tourism businesses investing in environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, digitalization, and the enhancement of tourism facilities and services, making it one of the most significant funding opportunities currently available in the sector. 

The scheme has a total budget of EUR 109 million, comprising: 

• EUR 59 million for non-repayable grants; and 

• EUR 50 million for subsidised loans. 

The Fund aims to promote the deseasonalization of tourism flows, support the green transition of tourism facilities and encourage the adoption of sustainable development models. 

Applications may be submitted through the Invitalia online platform from 15 July 2026 to 15 September 2026. 

Applications will be assessed through a competitive ranking procedure and funding will therefore not be awarded on a first-come, first-served or “click day” basis. 

The main features of the scheme are outlined below. 

Purpose of the scheme 

The scheme supports investment programs aimed at developing and improving Italy’s tourism offering through measures designed to enhance: 

• the energy efficiency of tourism facilities; 

• the production of energy from renewable sources; 

• the digitalization of buildings and services; 

• compliance with ESG criteria; 

• environmental sustainability; 

• accessibility and the overall quality of the tourism experience; and 

• the deseasonalization of tourism flows. 

Eligible beneficiaries 

The incentive is available to tourism businesses of all sizes located throughout Italy, provided that they are active and operate in one of the sectors identified by the eligible ATECO codes set out in the applicable legislation. 

The following entities may also apply: 

• businesses operating in other sectors that have been active for at least three years and generate the majority of their turnover from tourism-related activities, even where they do not hold a specific eligible ATECO code; 

• owners of the facilities covered by the investment program, provided that they are established as businesses and rely on the eligibility requirements of the facility operator, including the operator’s eligible ATECO code; and 

• foreign businesses that can demonstrate that they have an establishment in Italy as at the application date and hold an Italian tax code and VAT number. 

Investment programs may also be implemented jointly through a registered business network agreement (contratto di rete) involving up to five businesses. 

The business network must have been registered with the competent Chamber of Commerce for at least three years. 

Please note: as clarified during the recent explanatory webinars organised by MiTur and Invitalia, the scheme does not apply to inactive facilities intended to be reopened. Where the facilities are owned by an inactive company, the facilities themselves must nevertheless be operational. In such cases, an application may be submitted by relying on the eligibility requirements of the facility operator, provided that the operator is duly authorized, gives its consent and the contractual relationship between the owner and the operator is maintained throughout the entire duration of the investment program. 

Financial support 

The amount of financial support is determined on the basis of the aid intensity applicable to each individual investment, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) and/or the De Minimis Regulation. 

The incentive is awarded through a combination of: 

• Non-repayable grant: up to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs, including any applicable bonus percentages, for a maximum amount of EUR 4.5 million. 

• Subsidized loan: covering up to 70% of eligible costs, with a maximum term of five years and an interest rate equal to 20% of the applicable EU reference rate. 

In any event, the Gross Grant Equivalent (GGE) may not exceed 50% of eligible costs. 

The overall financial support package is divided as follows: 

• 54% non-repayable grant; 

• 46% subsidised loan. 

Investment Program Requirements 

To be eligible for funding, each investment program must: 

• concern one or more tourism facilities or local business units operated by the applicant; 

• involve eligible costs of not less than EUR 1 million and not more than EUR 15 million; 

• commence after the submission of the application; 

• be completed within 18 months from the date on which the funding is awarded and, in any event, no later than 30 September 2028. 

At least 51% of the eligible investment must relate to primary energy efficiency investments. 

These may be combined with complementary investments covering additional areas of intervention supported by the scheme. 

Examples of Eligible Investments 

Energy Efficiency Upgrades to Buildings – Article 38b GBER – Primary Investments 

• thermal insulation; 

• replacement of windows and external doors; 

• ventilated façades; 

• solar shading systems; 

• high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. 

Upgrading of Tourism Facilities – Article 38 GBER – Primary Investments 

• swimming pools and catering-related facilities; 

• wellness centers; 

• thermal spa facilities; 

• conference centers; 

• event venues. 

Renewable Energy Generation – Article 41 GBER – Primary Investments 

• photovoltaic systems; 

• solar thermal systems; 

• geothermal systems; 

• heat pumps; 

• energy storage systems. 

Resource Efficiency and ESG Investments – Article 38b GBER – Complementary Investments 

• water consumption reduction through rainwater collection and reuse systems; 

• green roofs and vertical gardens; 

• electric vehicle charging infrastructure. 

Digitalization Investments – Articles 28 and 38b GBER – Complementary Investments 

The scheme also supports investments aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of tourism facilities. 

• building automation and smart building management systems; 

• artificial intelligence solutions for building management; 

• digital infrastructure and network cabling; 

• software, digital platforms and innovative technologies; 

• systems for monitoring and optimizing energy consumption; 

• the acquisition or development of software, patents, licenses, know-how and non-patented technical knowledge relating to innovative products and production processes. 

Ancillary Investments (De Minimis Regulation) 

The following investments may also be eligible under the De Minimis framework: 

• replacement of flooring and wall coverings with sustainable materials; 

• installation of bioclimatic pergolas. 

Consultancy Costs 

For SMEs only, consultancy costs directly related to the investment program are eligible up to: 

• 4% of the eligible investment for consultancy services supporting the project; and 

• 2% of the eligible investment for environmental and energy consultancy services. 

Please note: for certain categories of investment falling under Articles 38 and 38b of the GBER (particularly demolition and reconstruction projects), a counterfactual analysis must be prepared in order to determine the eligible costs. 

More specifically, the counterfactual scenario represents the realistic investment that the company would have undertaken in the absence of public funding. 

This analysis compares the proposed energy-efficient investment with a standard or less energy-efficient alternative. 

Consequently, eligible costs do not correspond to the total value of the investment, but only to the additional costs incurred in achieving the higher level of environmental and energy performance compared with the counterfactual scenario. 

Evaluation Criteria 

Applications will be assessed through a national competitive ranking procedure based on a scoring system (maximum 100 points), taking into account the following criteria. 

Project Quality (main evaluation criterion) 

Priority will be given to investment programs demonstrating: 

• compliance with the mandatory requirement that at least 51% of eligible investment relates to primary energy efficiency investments; 

• a higher proportion of investments dedicated to ESG objectives and resource efficiency; 

• a higher proportion of investments supporting digitalization. 

Financial Soundness 

Applicants will also be assessed on the basis of their financial position, including: 

• profitability (EBITDA / turnover); 

• financial independence (equity / total liabilities); 

• level of indebtedness or incidence of financial expenses. 

Awarding Criteria 

Additional points will be granted to applicants holding: 

• environmental certifications; 

• the Italian Legality Rating (Rating di Legalità); 

• gender equality certification. 

Application Procedure 

Applications may be submitted exclusively through the Invitalia online portal within the following timeframe: 

• Opening of the application window: 15 July 2026 – 12:00 (CET) 

• Closing of the application window: 15 September 2026 – 17:00 (CET) 

Application Documentation 

The scheme is characterized by a high degree of technical complexity and requires applicants to prepare comprehensive supporting documentation, including: 

• declarations, a technical project, a detailed business plan and implementation timetable; 

• approved financial statements and/or accounting records, together with the documentation required to determine the applicant’s enterprise size; 

• the standard bank commitment letter and/or shareholders’ financial commitment declaration; 

• catastrophe insurance policy; 

• all certificates and supporting documentation required under the scheme, including Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) before and after the investment, together with the counterfactual scenario analysis, where applicable. 

Our Considerations 

Given the complexity of the scheme, it is essential to assess the eligibility of the proposed investment project at an early stage, estimate the potential level of financial support and structure the investment program accordingly. 

Careful planning and a well-prepared application will be key to maximizing the chances of securing funding under the Green Tour scheme.