Trade professionals are satisfied: numbers reach the 62,000 mark. Operators are optimistic: the new concept plus B2B gets a positive response.
MILAN – BIT 2014 – the International Tourism Exchange winded up last Saturday, once again confirming its key role for the market but also its undisputed importance for networking in the tourism sector.
The numbers at this 34th Bit exhibition speak for themselves: 62,170 people attended, and this is even more significant when we consider that the exhibition was held over 3 days this year, rather than the usual 4, with trade professionals concentrated in the first two days and the public being admitted only on Saturday.
“Given the results of this year’s exhibition, Bit has clearly shown that it plays a key role in Italy’s tourism sector,” declared Marco Serioli, Exhibitions Division Director at Fiera Milano S.p.A., in his winding-up speech. “We are very pleased indeed with the improvement in quality. The standard of exhibitors and buyers this year was very high, and the number of buyers almost doubled, thanks to the intensive scouting work done by Bit. The close links and synergies with EXPO also proved to be a decisive factor, enabling us to interpret the signs of recovery now emerging on the markets in the best possible way”.
Another important factor in the success of Bit 2014 was the calendar jam-packed with training and information events: about 3,600 trade professionals took part in more than 70 events.
Exhibitors attended from more than 100 countries. Italian trade professionals attended the fair in massive numbers of and there was great interest from their international counterparts, representing areas with more dynamic economies. Here, Bit confirmed its role as the key event for the European and Mediterranean area, as well as Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Over 1,000 international hosted buyers attended, and met the sellers in more than 20,400 business matches in the booths (5% more than at the previous fair), a result of the new Business to Business concept which was enthusiastically received by trade professionals.
Over 750 special meetings were arranged between companies associated with Expo2015 and international trade professionals, generating a considerable number of agreements, only part of the decisive springboard effect that Expo is having on the entire Italian tourism sector.
The dates for the next exhibition have already been set. Bit 2015 will be staged at the Fieramilano fairground in Rho from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th February 2015.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
