APCOM

Although world markets are launching conflicting signals, Milano's International Tourism Exchange (Bit) will be back from February 19th to February 22nd at Rho fair grounds. This year the exhibition will be even more international than the previous editions, with 5,000 exhibitors coming from 152 countries and 155,000 visitors expected overall. Bulgaria and Georgia will return after some years of absence. Greece and Spain will enjoy a particularly significant visibility, while South Africa, Israel and Syria will expand their spaces.

"The hard time the Italian economy is going through is also affecting the tourism field," explained Adalberto Corsi, the president of Fiera Milano Expocts. "Bit can spur the creation of common policies in favour of tourism with well-coordinated and effective measures both at a local and national level." The fair's characteristics will not change: the latter will still be a multi-target event that combines its role of general observatory with the ability to focus on the new trends and the most interesting markets.

"The surplus value of fairs as business catalyzers is even more evident and important when the economy is less dynamic, like today," pointed out Corrado Peraboni, the managing director of Fiera Milano Expocts. Among the novelties of the next edition is the web TV Bit Channel and its social network. The ministry for Agricultural and Forest policies will share in the project 'CerticiBit', an on-site journey through Italy's best wine and food productions and good dietary habits.