BIT 2024 Is Around The Corner: An International Space For Updating And Networking

Monday, Dec 11, 2023 0

BIT – Borsa Internazionale del Turismo (International Tourism Exchange), Italy’s first worldwide product marketplace, featuring 3 days of refresher courses, discussion and training on the sector’s most topical issues is around the corner. Italy’s leader and one of the leading globally integrated operators in the trade fair and congress sector will host the next edition of the trade fair, now in its 44th year, from 4 to 6 February 2024 at the Allianz MiCo, in the heart of Milan, the European capital of innovation and a central attraction hub.

The event, which features a multi-target B2B and B2C format, will be divided into three sectors: Leisure, Tech, MICE Village, creating a unique platform for discussion and in-depth analysis of the main tourism developments, future prospects, challenges and changes.

In addition to the numerous participation of Italian regions, which in recent years have been able to promote their territories to the foreign buyers attending the event, thus intercepting new incoming flows – Friuli-Venezia Giulia with its new “Slow Tourism” proposals, and Basilicata with its innovative projects for the promotion of the area stand out -, there are also many participants from abroad, confirming BIT as an international trade fair. Among others, major returns emerge from China, Japan and Tokyo City, then Barbados, Cuba, Tunisia, Jordan.

While Italians represent an important part of outbound tourism – as also confirmed by Japan, which in August 2023 recorded as many as 24,000 Italian visitors compared to 22,800 in 2019 – Italy is one of the most attractive destinations for international travelers, due to its culture, fashion, food and wine, and the unique “made in Italy” style. In fact, according to forecasts made by the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute published by the European Travel Commission, some two million China nationals are expected to visit Italy at the end of this year. After all, China reopened its borders to incoming and outgoing travel in March 2023, and is re-launching new tourist promotion policies; this year, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism launched a new slogan and logo to boost the Chinese destination around the world, with the slogan “NiHao!China”, which means “Welcome to China”.

On the MICE front, the presence of MINOR Hotels, owner of the NH brand, an international reference point in the hotel industry for its innovative and cutting-edge approach to create complete travel-experiences, has been confirmed; with immersive and tailor-made stays, attention to sustainability and care for travel, the brand now has a solid grip on the national market and is confidently looking to the international market.

Among private individuals, Gardaland, a leader in the amusement park sector, MSC Crociere, ITA AIRWAYS and FLY DUBAI stand out among carriers, while ASTOI and FTO are prominent among associations.

BIT2024 will also be an opportunity for Italian and international organizations, associations, professionals, and all keen travelers to discover the wonders of Italy and the world, to explore, learn about, and share the latest trends and changes in an ever-evolving industry.

The Bringing Innovation Into Travel format, a rich program of conferences organized according to three main themes – trends, innovation and sustainability will also be held with the support of Business International.

Through the packed conference panel, new technologies, the limits and opportunities of artificial intelligence, new ways of travelling – from Blesure to wellness travel -, overtourism and increasingly interactive and immersive experiences will be discussed, as well as the potential and new niches connected to food and wine and nature-related travel; Wanderlust will be one of the central appointments on the agenda where international top CEOs and industry experts will come together to discuss current and future trends in tourism, touching on cross-sectoral scenarios, for an integrated analysis on increasingly sustainable, customized and accessible travel.