Rome, the capital of tourism with the Festival of Destinations

The Festival of Destinations concluded with wide participation, the event held in Rome dedicated to the key themes of tourism evolution and territorial development. A major event dedicated to the future of destinations and the construction of new models of territorial development. A multi-thematic format with interventions, workshops, and networking moments.

At the Nazionale Spazio Eventi, about 50 selected speakers alternated, coming from the public and private tourism sectors, involving representatives from Ministries, Regions, Government, entities, and companies specialized in tourism services.

A broad and qualified discussion aimed at putting different experiences in dialogue, united by the goal of innovating the tourism supply chain and strengthening the role of destinations as complex and integrated systems.

The program for this edition was rich and stimulating, articulated in eight thematic panels, designed to thoroughly cover all components of the tourism sector. Eight working tables representing as many pieces of a shared path, aimed at offering a complete and structured reading of destination tourism: from governance to promotion, from innovation to services, up to sustainable development models.

The goal is to build a true professional community, capable of dialoguing and actively contributing to the definition of future tourism strategies. The Festival of Destinations, conceived by Paolo Garlando, Marketing & Project Manager Tourism, Sports, Events, is configured as a high-level discussion space, where institutions and operators meet to discuss challenges and opportunities in the sector.

At the center of the debate is the governance of destinations and collaboration between public and private sectors, with the aim of building more effective and shared development models. Great attention was also given to training and new tourism professions, in a context where skills and specialization become key elements for the competitiveness of territories.

A specific focus was placed on events, MICE, and sports tourism, considered strategic assets for the enhancement and promotion of destinations.

Ample space was reserved for new development models related to sustainable tourism, open air, luxury, and wellness, with particular attention to the ability of territories to innovate their offerings without losing identity. Furthermore, the theme of minor destinations was also explored, increasingly central in the strategies for balancing tourist flows and developing local businesses.

Among the topics at the center of the day was also the relationship between public and private sectors in managing tourist destinations, the role of digital services and artificial intelligence as development tools for the sector, and strategies related to mobility, accessibility, and infrastructure dedicated to less frequented territories. A final session was also scheduled to gather insights, reflections, and conclusions that emerged during the various meetings.

Among the speakers were the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, the Vice President of the Senate Gian Marco Centinaio, the Tourism Manager of Fratelli d'Italia Gianluca Caramanna, and the President of ENIT Alessandra Priante. Representatives from Regions and major players in the tourism sector were also expected, including Debora Massari, Luca Lombardi, Alessandro Onorato, Sandro Pappalardo, Antonio Barreca, Vittorio Messina, Renzo Iorio, and Marco Misischia.

The technical part of the discussion was also entrusted to scholars, managers, and experts in the tourism sector and innovation, including Pietro Piccinetti, Onorio Rebecchini, Francesco Tapinassi, Antonio Bufalari, Carmen Bizzarri, Josep Ejarque, Edoardo Colombo, and Giancarlo Dell’Orco.

Among the speakers was also Nevio D’Arpa, CEO&Founder of BTM Italia, present at the panel “Events, MICE, Sports. The heritage of destinations” dedicated to the strategic role of major events and sports in the development and promotion of territories. The contribution of different but complementary experiences from the tourism and events system was interesting, starting with Serena Ranieri, president of Federmep – Federation of Weddings and Events, along with Massimo Cicatiello from Mille Miglia USA, and Onorio Rebecchini, advisor of the Convention Bureau Rome and Lazio. And also, Luigi Menna, president of FIAB, and Giuseppe D’Amico, vice president of the Italian Sailing Federation.

A moment of deepening on the value generated by events, congresses, sports tourism, and sustainable mobility, sectors that increasingly contribute to building the identity and competitiveness of destinations.