Bit –The International Tourism Market the exhibition for the Italian tourist product, organised by EXPOcts is expanding into the Portello area. This year’s new development is a pavilion open to everyone. BITALY is also being launched, a new workshop devoted to the incoming trade.

Progress – More than 5,000 Exhibitors, 128 countries represented, 136,700 total attendees including 96,700 Professional Operators: these are the 2004 figures. This is a constant rising trend which has seen Exhibitors increase by 37.5% from 1999 to the present day. Professional Operator figures are up 12.6% in the last three years while over the same time period Travel Agency figures have grown by 32.5%.

A winning formula – Results which confirm the success of the multi target formula. Four days all devoted to business and, furthermore, each one with a specific target, from the provider to the end user. This allows Exhibitors to organise each day according to precise targets and Visitors to meet the most appropriate contact on the day of their visit: Saturday is a dynamic formula which has evolved constantly over 25 years because of the way we listen to the demands of all the Exhibitors and pay attention to what the market needs.

The new layout - Bit 2005 is expanding into the even more functional pavilions in the Portello area. A new Exhibition layout which thanks its “sequential” position will allow greater, more rational consolidation of what is on show. This year there will be dedicated areas with a specific focus along the whole route: thermals and well being, incentives, wine and food tourism, technology and virtualilty.

A pavilion open to all – a new development this year is the opening for the whole four days of the great Pavilion 11 to both the public and trade. Here under the title of BitVisions, you will find exhibitions and information on training, employment and the development potential for tourism in new areas such as rural tourism. You will also find Palabit in the same pavilion which will stage shows and spectaculars for the public.

A new workshop for the incoming market – Confirmed as Sunday 12 and Monday 13, BUYITALY, the workshop for the Italian tourist market organised in collaboration with Enit and Alitalia: a unique opportunity for providers and services with the Italian tourist market to meet national and international Buyers, which in 2004 was attended by 450 buyers and 3,000 delegates. BITALY will also be new this year, a new workshop dedicated to incoming tourism on Tuesday 15 February where leading Italian Operators for the incoming trade will be able to meet leading buyers from abroad.

The appointment for the whole Tourism System is at Bit, Fiera Milano, from Saturday 12 to Tuesday 15 February 2005.

Bit Multi target: from the trade to the traveller, 4 days of targeted business.

• Saturday 12 February:
  Trade and tourism spectaculars



• Sunday 13 February:
  Trade and Travellers



• Monday 14 February:
  Trade: Professional Operators, national and international Buyers



• Tuesday 15 February
  Trade and focus on business Travel and Incentives