Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced in Rome that all the PNRR funds allocated to the “Roots Tourism” initiative have been fully used. Speaking at Villa Madama during the presentation of new projects financed through the Cohesion and Development Fund, Tajani explained that the €200 million programme is designed to attract people of Italian descent back to the places from which their families once departed. A central focus, he added, is the revival of inland areas that often receive little attention.

Tajani recalled that an estimated 80 million people around the world have Italian roots and expressed hope that many of them will take the opportunity to rediscover those origins. The project will be showcased in Italian embassies globally to draw visitors to regions that are not always part of mainstream tourism.

The event was also attended by Robert Allegrini, president of the NIAF, who described “roots travellers” as “not simply tourists, but children returning home.” He stressed that the initiative could help strengthen the long-standing ties between the Italian-American community and Italy.

Silvia Limoncini, head of the Directorate for Services to Italians Abroad at the Foreign Ministry, announced that consulates and embassies will host dedicated events to support anyone interested in tracing their family history.

Responding to criticism that the programme might have political motivations, Tajani dismissed the claims and insisted that the funds will be managed with “the utmost transparency.” He added that the Court of Auditors, the Council of State and the Financial Police have been asked to monitor the use of resources “as guardians, not as obstacles.”