APCOM

With 152 countries participating the 2008 edition of Bit ("Borsa Internazionale del Turismo", International Tourism Exchange) confirms its worldwide leading role in the industry. This year marks the 28th edition: from 21 to 28 February the Fieramilano of Rho will host workshops, shows, seminars and press conferences all focusing on tourism latest figures, trends, new opportunities and challenges.

Trade will represent a significant chapter in the eight day event. Among most interesting initiatives is in fact "BuyItaly", an international workshop focusing on Italian tourism offer with its business to business contacts opportunity: a crucial event considering 546 Buyers are expected in the 2008 edition.

Another pivotal event is the "Buy Club International", the new international workshop for national and foreign buyers representing the association's category. Food and wine will also dominate this year's Bit with "Certicibit" entirely dedicated to Italian's regional recipes and excellent culinary products.

"This edition will increase the potential of the event" has explained Corrado Peraboni, Managing Director of Fiera Milano Expocts. "The numbers regarding the countries returning and indeed the new entries are a confirmation of this positive trend" he added. Bhutan, Mali, Republic of the Congo, Togo, Belgium, Byelorussia, Nicaragua and Haiti are among the cities participating for the first time. Nations returning are Japan, Bermuda Islands, Greece and Syria, to name but a few.

Thanks to Milano's Municipality initiative this year's edition will also focus on those countries committed to friendly and responsible tourism, such as Mongolia, Niger, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago.

The eight day event will be extensively followed up by ten foreign news papers.