The Meet Tourism event held last month in Messina in Sicily, and organized by the city’s municipal administration in collaboration with ItaliAbsolutely, brought together a group of international buyers. They spent three days discovering the cultural and traditional attractions of the Strait city. and also met with local industry players during one-to-one B2B sessions.   

“I really liked Messina, it is packed with history”

Veronica Scalia of Naxos Travel, who organizes travel for cruise groups in Sicily, says that clients often say they would appreciate more professionalism from local guides and that “visitors should take Sicily into consideration from April to October.” 

Larysa Bunachkovska of Edelweiss Tour, Kiev said that last year they added the Eolian Islands, Taormina by boat and Palermo to their programmes and that she is considering adding Messina.  “I really liked Messina, it is packed with history. The cathedral is very beautiful and so is the museum with the Caravaggio and Antonella da Messina works. And I really enjoyed the e-bike experience.”  
Visitors are requesting multimedia guides

Dora Krkvaric of Kreator Pitovaja, Croatia offers week-long tours of Sicily and food experiences.  “Nowadays everyone wants to do something exclusive and different, such as a tour in a felucca.” She added that many clients would appreciate multimedia guides.

Mihal Hitka of Hitka Tour Operator, Bratislava said he was pleasantly surprised by Messina.

“The history and the food are very good and the felucca tour on the lake was very interesting, I’d like to do it on the sea.  We did see some good B&Bs, but I did feel there are not enough hotels.” 

“Messina is a destination that can be sold in all seasons”

Celia Martinez Morales of Norwegian Cruise Line Miami says their best-sellers are Rome and Florence. “It was interesting that just about everything we ate in Messina was grown in the area and was a local specialty. What our clients want is to relax on a beach or in the mountains, eat well and take photos to show family and friends back home.” 


Pietrangelo Petanò of Medford Marcopolo Projet commented that Messina is a destination that can be sold in all seasons but “it is a problem that there are no hotels for groups in the centre.
This first edition of Meet Tourism focused on culture and traditions, and there really is a lot to see. For the next edition I would suggest concentrating on niche products.”    

ItaliAbsolutely’s first fam trip for international buyers and Messina’s first Meet Tourism were held in the Sicilian strait city from 18 to 22 October.

Four days of excursions and B2B meetings 

The event highlighted the extraordinary synergy between ItaliAbsolutely, its parent company Travel Open Day, and Messina’s municipal administration. During the four days of Meet Tourism international buyers, journalists and influencers discovered Messina on a series of excursions and then networked with local tour operators at three B2B sessions.  

“We have to make Messina better known” 

“Messina has all the credentials to make tour operators and tourists fall in love with it; we just have to be good at making it better known, because you cannot fall in love with something you do not know. Now it’s up to the operators, journalists and travel bloggers to tell the world how beautiful it is. My thanks to ItaliAbsolutely; I am certain that this and future collaborations will yield the hoped-for results,” said culture and tourism councillor Enzo Caruso.

Visits to local sites, and culinary experiences 

Participants saw how the feluccas used for swordfish fishing are built and admired the Strait of Messina, where the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ionian Sea merge. They visited the Museum of the Cathedral Treasury and the cathedral with its astronomical clock, the largest and most complex in the world, together with that of Prague, and they also visited the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina to admire works by Antonello da Messina and Caravaggio. Meet Tourism was also an opportunity for them to discover the typical culinary experiences prepared by local chefs who highlighted Messina’s myriad gastronomic flavours and fragrances.  

“I was surprised by this beautiful city” 

Among the invited buyers Celia Martinez Morales Miami, destination manager of Norwegian Cruises said, "I was surprised by this beautiful city with its enchanting views, history and culture. Here even the food is culture, much of
what I tasted were local specialties." Dora Krkvaric from Kreator Putovaja in Croatia added, "I was fascinated by the feluccas and the e-bike excursion in the Peloritani mountains, not to mention the museums, the cathedral and the food."  

“Gathering clams in Lake Ganzirri was a fantastic experience”

For Livia Cajova of Elit Travel in Slovaki,a Messina is not a well-known destination. “But I think it is possible to introduce it to our customers even if there are no direct flights.  I loved the myths, the history, the feluccas, and gathering clams in Lake Ganzirri was a fantastic experience.” Russlan Alev of Mats Travel Kazakhstan concluded by saying, "It is difficult to describe the emotion of the night organ concert in Messina Cathedral." 

 For each event we handpick attendees who've shown genuine interest and completed our contact form, soreach out to us today for more details and to stay in the loop about our upcoming events. 

Petralia Sottana and Gangi, two charming mountain towns nestled in the heart of Sicily are hidden gems waiting to be explored. 

Two enchanting Sicilian towns

Maybe less famous than other tourist destinations in Sicily, Petralia Sottana and Gangi offer a truly enchanting experience for visitors who have the pleasure of exploring them. Petralia Sottana, perched at just over a thousand meters above sea level, is a picturesque and captivating town located within the Madonie Park. It is surrounded by lush green mountains and steeped in history and culture. Its privileged location provides breathtaking vistas of the surrounding hills and pristine natural beauty. This is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts, offering the opportunity to immerse oneself in the splendour of nature and uncover incredibly serene and captivating brauty spots.

Bread Exhibition in Gangi inside the Bongiorno Palace, the Municipality

Historic buildings and charming architecture

As you wander through its streets, you'll be treated to views of historic buildings and charming architecture. A must-see in Petralia Sottana is the Basilica of Maria SS. Assunta, a mother church dating back to the 15th century. Petralia Sottana, a city proud of its rich culinary traditions, invites you to indulge in typical Sicilian dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.

Ventimiglia Tower

Italy's most beautiful village

Gangi, also situated at just over a thousand meters within the Madonie Park, has earned the prestigious title of Italy's most beautiful village on multiple occasions. Gangi is a captivating destination that should be on every Sicily traveller’s list. To truly appreciate the splendours of Gangi, one must stroll through its narrow alleyways, stone houses, colourful windows, and flower-bedecked balconies that create a unique, enchanting, and evocative atmosphere. This destination also offers the possibility of delightful excursions, also on horseback, and scenic walks that reveal its true beauty.