Today, at the Italy TTG Travel Experience of the Italian Exhibition Group, the meeting, entitled “Associations, Travel Agencies, Networks and Tour Operators Together to protect the traveler and enhance the supply chain” started from an analysis of the recent case of Thomas Cook. The two companies have developed a reflection on the current business model of the sector characterized by strong and growing demand.
ASTOI (national tour operators association in Italy) and FTO have joined forces to pursue a single common goal: enhancing the supply chain, making current market opportunities concrete, and protecting travelers. Together, ASTOI and FTO intend to develop a subject to create a common communication campaign aimed at customers, with the goal of highlighting the added values of organized tourism. This will be synonymous with quality and guarantees of protection for the traveler and in full compliance with European regulations.
For the first time, associations, travel agencies, networks, and tour operators will join together to create a single entity, which will serve as a common governing body from the control room to manage objectives dedicated to the final consumer.
Development of Italy-China tourism
New Italy-China agreements
At the Fiera di Rimini, the most famous experts on a global scale are scheduled to discuss the various initiatives promoted by TTG Travel Experience and Shanghai World.
Travel Fair (SWTF), one of the main events in China (next edition: April 23-26, 2020), is co-organized by Europe Asia Global Link Exhibitions (EAGLE). It is a joint venture created by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) and VNU Exhibitions Asia, along with the Shanghai International Convention & Exhibition Corp.
The conference entitled “The Future of the Chinese Outbound Tourist Market” took place with the trend being that of customization as a lever for the European market. This was organized by TTG and SWTF in collaboration with ADR Aeroporti di Roma and the Roma & Lazio Convention Bureau.
The conference was promoted within the framework of the year of tourism and the culture of Italy. China 2020 was signed by the two countries during President Xi JinPing’s visit to Italy last March.
IEG on the Chinese market
At the conclusion of the work was the signing of the agreement between EAGLE and Tuniu, marking the start of the partnership for the development of the Chinese buyer program in the events.
According to the agreement, Tuniu will organize a trade fair in Shanghai where it is among the main exhibitors. There will be a series of business-matching activities between operators in the Chinese territory and the international offer present at the event.
For more than 3 years, IEG has been part of the Chinese market through Europe Asia Global Link Exhibitions (EAGLE) with headquarters in Shanghai and organizing fairs in the Chinese market in sectors where IEG already has a leading position in Italy and Europe. Every year, SWTF welcomes more than 750 exhibitors from 53 countries and regions around the world and is visited by around 15,000 professional operators and an audience of around 50,000 visitors.
Airports of Rome, China is closer
In the same context, there was a signing of an agreement between Aeroporti di Roma and CTrip to expand the promotion and conquest of the Chinese tourist market in Italy. This will endeavor to improve the offer that Leonardo da Vinci Airport has in flights for Chinese tourists.
Fiumicino Airport is the European leader in terms of numbers of destinations served and carriers operating between Rome and Greater China. There are 7 directly-linked Chinese destinations. In the words of Fausto Palombelli, Chief Commercial Officer of ADR: “This year, in fact, we are experiencing a real passenger boom from and to Greater China, so much so that in the recent summer months we had a 30% passenger growth compared to the same months last year, and we expect to exceed by end of 2019 the threshold of 900,000 passengers.”
The signing of the agreement with Ctrip will make the link between China and Fiumicino airport even closer. Mr. Palombelli, approached in Rimini, informed that the escalation of more Chinese airlines to Leonardo da Vinci Airport is at a stand-by point waiting for traffic rights.
Fausto Palombelli
