From Smart&Start to ON Nuove Imprese a Tasso Zero: the main instruments managed by Invitalia for those looking to launch or develop a business in the tourism sector.
Invitalia is the national agency of the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (the former MISE) and manages some of the most structured public instruments for those looking to launch or develop a business in Italy. Tourism is one of the sectors that can access multiple Invitalia calls, although these are never exclusively tourism-focused: they are general instruments to which businesses in the sector can apply if they meet the requirements.
They are worth knowing, because they are often complementary to sector-specific grants (such as the 2026 Hospitality Facilities Grant): a tourism business can combine an Invitalia instrument for start-up or digitalisation with a sector grant for refurbishment, building a growth path across multiple steps.
This is Invitalia’s principal instrument for innovative start-ups registered in the special section of the Companies Register. Tourism businesses wishing to access it must present a project in which elements of innovation and new technologies are central — opening a B&B is not enough, a strong technological component is required (booking AI, vertical platforms for experiential tourism, management systems that improve the guest experience, and so on).
The economic terms of the instrument are attractive:
In the South, therefore, the structure becomes very favourable: zero-rate financing on 80% and grant on a further significant portion, with equity requirements drastically reduced compared with a market-financed plan.
A recent development — operational from September 2025 — is the extension of the measure to joint projects between Italian and French businesses, implementing the Quirinal Treaty. For approved binational projects, the grant component rises to 40% for businesses in the South and 30% for the others, always in combination with zero-rate financing. The agreement between Invitalia and Bpifrance, the French public investment bank, allows start-ups to access both national mechanisms simultaneously through a simplified procedure.
For tourism, this is an interesting space: an entrepreneurial initiative networking Italian and French businesses on topics such as gastronomy, hospitality design, digital tourism platforms, has a dedicated channel here.
The ON instrument is dedicated to new businesses set up by:
The mechanism is an interest-free loan that can cover up to 90% of eligible expenditure. Tourism businesses fall within the eligible sectors.
Unlike Smart&Start, an innovative character of the start-up is not required here: the instrument is designed for traditional entrepreneurship, provided the subjective requirements are met. For a young person looking to take over a small family hotel, or for a woman opening an agritourism, ON is generally more accessible.
Beyond the two principal instruments, it is worth keeping in mind other measures that may interest the tourism sector, even if more niche:
It is worth noting that the openings of some of these calls are periodic and tied to annual allocations: it is always advisable to check the status on the Invitalia portal before planning an operation.
All Invitalia calls require a structured business plan, alongside documentation specific to the measure. This is a point where misunderstandings often arise: it is not enough to fill in a template downloaded online; the document must seriously address market analysis, operating model, forecast P&L over 3-5 years, and investments supported by quotations and timeline.
On this dimension, the difference between an application that is well assessed and one that stalls is significant. Invitalia assessment commissions read many business plans; the generic ones, or those with inconsistent numbers, are immediately identified.
Invitalia calls follow a different logic from regional ones: less “click day”, more merit-based assessment. Those who prepare a solid file have time and means to make it count; those who submit in haste tend to lose regardless.
If you are considering opening or developing a tourism business and want to understand which Invitalia instrument is best suited to your situation, write to us or book a call. A good choice of instrument, at the outset, is often worth as much as the quality of the application.