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TIME TO EVALUATE THE STATE OF THE TOURIST INDUSTRY
AND INNOVATIONS FOR BIT 2009
Bit 2009, one of the most important tourism fair in the world, is becoming more and more International and it will be held in the fieramilano exhibition centre in Rho from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 February.
The 2009 Edition, with new entries such as Bulgaria and the return of Kenya after a three year absence, but also with overseas agreements and events such as attendance of the Jata in Tokyo (19-21 September) and the annual Uftaa (United Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations) congress in Manila from 18 to 22 October, as well as taking part in the WTM in London, from 10 to 13 November.
Bit is always more “web 2.0”: Bit Channel, the event’s web tv, which can be seen at the following website: www.bit-channel.com is becoming increasingly popular with an increasingly large audience. The www.bit-channel.com platform, was designed for Operators, but is also aimed at Italian and foreign travel enthusiasts. It is a modern videosharing channel which is also connected to YouTube. It allows tourist Operators to promote new holiday solutions in an original way, using the most advanced technology languages and thereby improving the visibility of their companies on the web.
In fact, in recent years interaction and involvement has been an indicator of the relationship between Bit and its public. The Bit Tourism Award, an award promoted by Bit which rewards the most popular destinations and the most esteemed Operators on the basis of votes directly cast by travellers on the www.bitaward.it website, is an example of this.
However, we must not forget the traditional website: in fact, the International Tourism Exchange, has just launched its new website www.bit.fieramilanoexpocts.it, which has a completely renewed layout.
The absolute innovation for Bit 2009 is the first Religious Tourism Workshop. This workshop has been organised in cooperation with Aurea, the Religious Tourism Exchange, and Spazio Eventi (Space for Events), and it will be held on Friday 20 February during the fair. The expectancy is for a turnout of at least 60 selected customer Operators (diocesan personnel, travel agencies, parish leaders) and 150 service providers (diocesan welcoming centres, places of worship, pilgrimage destinations, and other destinations).
Bit 2009 is also confirmation of a series of encounters which are now a reference point in the respective market segments. An example is BuyItaly, the biggest workshop in the world for Italian tourism service providers; it is a unique meeting point between Buyers that are renowned all over the world and Sellers that represent the best of Made in Italy in relation to tourism. The 2008 edition, which was the 23rd edition, was attended by 566 Buyers from abroad, some of which were from new emerging markets such as Poland, Hungary, Korea, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and for the first time, Serbia, just to mention a few.
There will also definitely be a second edition of the Buy Club International, an international workshop dedicated to national and foreign buyers belonging to association and Cral structures, which gave good results in its first edition.
Lastly, CerticiBit is also back: this is a focus on travel seen as a time for exploration and education related to good eating habits, as well as the production of quality food and drink.
Bit 2009 hopes to see you in the fieramilano area in Rho from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 February 2009.
For the latest news on the event, please visit our website: www.bit.fieramilanoexpocts.it
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
