{"id":1211,"date":"2017-08-23T17:21:22","date_gmt":"2017-08-23T15:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amblondra.esteri.it\/news\/dall_ambasciata\/2017\/08\/wtm-london-2017-s-premier-partner\/"},"modified":"2017-08-23T17:21:22","modified_gmt":"2017-08-23T15:21:22","slug":"wtm-london-2017-s-premier-partner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amblondra.esteri.it\/it\/news\/dall_ambasciata\/2017\/08\/wtm-london-2017-s-premier-partner\/","title":{"rendered":"World Travel Market London 2017\u2019s Premier Partner is Italy"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Italian National Tourist Board<\/strong><\/a> will be the Premier Partner at WTM London 2017<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 the leading global event for the travel industry \u2013 as Italy takes a \u201cfundamental step\u201d towards a new marketing strategy. Known as ENIT, the tourism body has signed the Premier Partnership deal to ensure widespread media coverage; to offer maximum support to its tourism industry; and to highlight Italy\u2019s diverse range of holidays.<\/p>\n

ENIT will have two main stands at WTM London (EU2000, EU2070) and will share its exhibition space with around 230 Italian travel trade partners, including regional tourism bodies, hotels, travel agencies, resorts and operators.<\/p>\n

Through its Premier Partnership status, Italy aims to \u201creposition and widen the Italian tourist offer\u201d beyond the traditional tourist destinations. ENIT will also shine a spotlight on its themed years, with Italian villages being the focus for 2017, and food and wine in 2018. Both themes promote the Italian way of life, which can be experienced by tourists across the whole country \u2013 from its mountains to the coast, lakes and cities. Indeed, the country\u2019s cuisine is already a major draw, and it is regarded as the number one destination for food and wine tourism, according to the Food Travel Monitor.<\/p>\n

Italy will also use WTM London to highlight its cultural attractions and the fact it has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country, with 53. According to FutureBrand\u2019s Country Brand Index, it is ranked top for Tourism & Culture \u2013 and it is the most photographed country on Instagram, with 64 million tags and counting.<\/p>\n

Its varied attractions mean Italy is the fifth most popular destination worldwide for international arrivals, with 52 million visitors in 2016 \u2013 up 3.2% on 2015. These visitors generated more than \u20ac36 billion euros last year for the Italian economy, with Germans accounting for the highest amount at \u20ac5.7 billion. The US was the second biggest market (\u20ac4.6bn), followed by France (\u20ac3.6bn), the UK (\u20ac2.9bn) and Switzerland (\u20ac2.4bn). Cities famed for their art and culture \u2013 such as Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples and Turin \u2013 are the most popular option for overseas tourists, who spend about \u20ac14 billion in this sector. Overseas tourists visiting for seaside holidays, meanwhile, generate almost \u20ac5 billion.<\/p>\n

Dario Franceschini<\/strong>, Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, said the special themed years mean that regional tourist boards and cities can work together with the trade to create itineraries which enable overseas visitors to experience Italian lifestyles.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the tourism sector, where competition is so fierce, it is fundamental for Italy to diversify its attractions and spread tourist flows over the entire national territory,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTourism, this extraordinary engine of economic development, is a medium of peaceful encounters between cultures and a fundamental antidote to the fear of the different.\u201d<\/p>\n

WTM London, Senior Director, Simon Press<\/strong>, said: \u201cWTM London is thrilled to welcome Italy as its Premier Partner for 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cItaly has long been a key exhibitor at WTM London and we\u2019re delighted that this Premier Partnership will help the country to take its tourism marketing to the next level.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing WTM London\u2019s Premier Partner means Italy has the perfect platform promote the extensive range of Italian holidays to buyers and media from across the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n