Tourism Gains Importance At Festa Italiana 2004

Reema Sisodia - Mumbai

Salvatore Ianniello

Festa Italiana, the annual Italian festival organised by the Indo-Italian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IICCI), will promote and highlight tourism at the 2004 Festa Italia event. ENIT (Italian Tourism Board) in India, has chalked out its plans to promote and highlight the region in a different light. Keeping the larger theme in mind, that is of selling Italy ‘One region at a time’, there will be an added formula of promoting and selling Italy, which is as a ‘Country for all seasons and ages’.

As part of its primary highlights, ENIT aims to conduct tourism roadshows across five cities in India between December 6 to December 13, 2004. The cities slated for the roadshows would be Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, New Delhi and Mumbai. Festa Italia commences from December 2 - 14, 2004.

Elucidating the plans and promotions, Salvatore Ianniello, ENIT representative in India said, “We aim to further promote Italy in a different light, hence we have though of selling every regions along with seasonal specific and event-specific highlights. Our aim is to sell it as a 365 days destination with something special to offer every season, be it spring, winter etc. We also hope to promote tours that could be of interest for people across ages.”

The roadshow would witness Italian tour operators making their presence and presentation in India. Apart from the roadshows, the the event would also witness two inaugural evenings, to celebrate the launch of Alitalia’s operations from New Delhi. Cultural events highlighting the history, culture and dances of the region, are also part of the plans.

Apart from a direct focus on tourism, fashion would also be an essential element at the 2004 Festa Italia event. Top of the line, designers, from Italy namely, Valentino Zegna, Balestra, Trussardi, would make their presence felt. Jewellery exhibitions would also be held in different cities during the Festa period. Leading Italian interior designer, Dordoni and Severgini, senior journalist of Italy would visit India during this years’s event.

Adds Andrea Bonardi, secretary general, IICCI, “Our aim is to promote tourism and other aspects such as fashion, cuisine, business which only helps promote tourism. It is also a great platform for India to highlight its unique tourism products to delegates who would visit five cities during the fest. It is also important to highlight a refreshed India.”