Italy Pavilion – Amphitheatre – Tuesday, 11 January 2022 – 4.00 pm (UAE time) – 1.00 pm (Italian time)
LIVE STREAMING HERE
Luxury tourism, in terms of generated revenues and growth potential, represents an important strategic lever for Italy. According to the report on the high-end tourism market carried out in May 2021 by Bain & Company on behalf of Altagamma, this segment in 2019 (the year before the outbreak of the pandemic) – although it involved less than 1% of facilities in terms of supply and only 3% of nights in terms of demand – managed to generate 15% of hospitality turnover and 25% of tourist spending in Italy. With a total turnover of around 25 billion euros, in normal years, this tourism niche can generate 60 billion euros in direct and indirect revenue, equivalent to 3% of Italy’s GDP. In addition to the economic impact, driven mainly by foreign tourists, high-end tourism contributes to enhancing the image of Italy as a destination abroad and is a driving force for the promotion and development of Italian-made excellence. In general, Food and Shopping are the main drivers of choice of the destination by high-end tourists. In this regard, data processed by BCG for Altagamma (2021), reveal that in the perception of luxury tourists, Italy ranks first for art cities and country destinations and for experiences related to food and wine, art and culture. Italy also enjoys an excellent reputation for exclusive shopping and hospitality.
If Italy is one of the most desirable destinations in the world for high-end tourists, what about Lazio? And – in particular – what is the potential attraction that the Region can develop in relation to travellers from the Gulf area?
The international forum “Lazio, a Luxury Destination”, organised by the Lazio Region’s Tourism Department in collaboration with the leading players in high-end tourism, aims to answer both questions, focusing on Rome (one of the five cities preferred by travellers from the non-European elite segment) but also recounting the region’s most evocative scenery and experiences of potential interest to those arriving from the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula.
In addition to the Capital, a city of art par excellence, Lazio can boast some important strategic and inimitable assets, including:
- a network of minor destinations with a strong cultural connotation;
- a natural vocation for wellness tourism and outdoor sports and activities;
- a high-end commercial offer characterised by the most iconic Made in Italy brands;
- luxury accommodation facilities, villas and prestigious residences;
- an important “star” catering offer;
- some international events capable of capturing the attention of a public with high purchasing power (Haute Couture, Open Tennis, Ryder Cup, Piazza di Siena, E-Prix…).
