It is the most important marketplace in Italy where tourism demand and supply meet, and for this reason the Minister for Culture and Tourism, Massimo Bray, has been invited to take part in the most important business to business tourism fair in Italy. Many are the new features for the next edition, the 50th, scheduled for October 17 to 19 in Rimini Fiera, Argentina, a host country at its height after the election of Pope Francis.

Is it realistic to focus on tourism as an exit strategy from the crisis, to relaunch the Italian economy? Just a few weeks after a turbulent and difficult summer for this sector, the market of holidays and travel gets ready to provide an answer to this question during the most important event in Italy for tourism enterprises: TTG Incontri, the international tourism fair, scheduled for October 17 to 19 in Rimini. The Italian Minister for Culture and Tourism, Massimo Bray, has been invited to take part and, on this occasion he will have a direct exchange with the most important entrepreneurs and representatives of the Italian tourism industry.

With over 2,400 exhibitors, over 130 destinations taking part, more than 50 thousand professionals expected to attend and over 1,000 international buyers of the Italian tourism product coming from 60 Countries, TTG Incontri is the largest marketplace in Italy for sector enterprises, the place where future strategies are defined, the market is scrutinized, the new tourism products are introduced, the general scenario is assessed and changes are planned, both from the outgoing and the incoming perspective. And to the incoming sector the fair dedicates an entire area, TTI – 3 pavilions out of 15, for a total exhibition area of over 21 thousand square meters: it is the largest and most important appointment for the commercialization of the Italian tourism offer.

This edition of TTG Incontri is especially significant, being the fiftieth: “We have decide d to send a strong message to the market, taking the road to innovation”, says Paolo Audino, managing director of TTG Italia, the Rimini Fiera Group company in charge of the organisation of the event. And innovation will be the leitmotif of the three days in Rimini, “because at times of crisis we need to react.”

Two are the main pieces of news in this respect. The first: the fair will host the inauguration of TTG Next, an area dedicated to innovative tourism Start-Up companies, where market operators will have the chance to exchange their ideas and to seize the new signs of change. As of today, over 40 start-ups have already confirmed their participation. The second: Travel Blogger Destination Italy (#TBDI2013), an event within the event that will culminate with the arrival at the fair of 150 international bloggers and video makers for a busy program of pre-organized meetings with the exhibitors and a calendar of seminars with world renowned speakers.

Alongside innovation, there is also important news on the international front. For the first time TTG Incontri will have a Host Country Argentina, a destination that is bound to play a major role in the Italian outgoing sector and over 130 Countries will be represented at the fair, many of which have chosen TTG Incontri as their only promotional event in Italy.

The news on the exhibitors’ front: this year the 15 pavilions will be subdivided into 6 themed areas (Italy, Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Global Village – transports, tour operators, technology, hotels, services). The Italy area will in turn be subdivided into three themed islands dedicated to Wine & Food, Spa & Wellness (with a large representation of the Thermalia brand, the group which gathers the exhibitors’ members of Federterme) and Cultural Tourism, all this in order to grant exposure to Italian excellence and to guarantee an effective and easily enjoyable visitors’ path.

Moreover, also this year the fair will host two important trade associations: Astoi (Association of Italian Tour Operators) with a large exhibition area, and Federviaggio, Federation of Organized Travel.

To top up and integrate this year’s offer, the content program is very wide and articulate with important appointments and international guests for a total of over 120 hours of seminars and conferences dedicated to the most topical and interesting issues for the tourism industry.

TTG Incontri/TTI is organized by TTG Italia, a Rimini Fiera Group company.