Return Journey: Root Tourism

Over a span of a century and a half, from the mid-19th to the end of the 20th century, it is estimated that more than twenty million Italians emigrated in search of better opportunities. They travelled to nearby lands such as Switzerland, France and Germany, or ventured to distant destinations like the Americas and Australia. Many of these emigrants settled in their new countries, and today, their descendants are increasingly making the journey back, even if only temporarily, to explore their ancestral roots. This phenomenon, known as ‘root tourism,’ reflects the growing economic significance of reconnecting with one's place of origin. This will be the topic of discussion when Riccardo Giumelli, who explores this subject in Scoprirsi italiani, comes together with Luigi Maria Vignali, Director General for Italians Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.