The project for the rail link from Mestre station to Venice airport is expected by late 2026 or early 2027.

An 8-kilometer line of which 3.5 above ground

The underground terminal station will be ready by June 2026, and the first trains by December with trains running in 2027 as was confirmed on 16 October, on during Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini's inspection in Tessera. The link will have an 8-kilometre line, of which 3.5 kilometres above ground and the rest below, and connecting the Venice-Trieste to the Venice’s Marco Polo AIrport. A €644 million project, with a major viaduct of 540 metres and 18 spans, over the Dese river.

Two tracks for up to 60 trains a day

The railway station at Venice’s Marco Polo airport will be 30 metres deep, and will have two tracks able to accommodate up to 60 trains a day. For Enrico Marchi, president of Save, the company that manages the Venetian airport and is contributing €50 million to the project, the new service will change the quality of the airport experience.

“The first train will depart between end 2026 and early 2027” 

“There has been some delay, due to the appeals that were filed and some archaeological findings, but we can now point to the period between the end of 2026 and the beginning of 2027 as an achievable date for the departure of the first train,” said Marchi.

World Travel Market London, organised by RX, announces that the ITT Future You Forum will take place at this year’s event, continuing a partnership that has been in place since 2009.

ITT Future You is an initiative founded by the Institute of Travel and Tourism to inspire the next generation of aviation, travel, tourism and hospitality professionals. It acts as a bridge between the education sector and industry and has been developing a portfolio of collaborations focused on helping travel and tourism students find jobs, introduce them to mentors and offer networking opportunities with peers and industry leaders.

The forum has taken place at WTM London every year since 2009. It regularly attracts more than 500 students and graduates, making it one of the most attended sessions over the three days.

WTM London 2025 returns to ExCeL London from 4–6 November, with this year’s Future You Forum taking place on Thursday in the Orange Theatre, from 10:45am to 12:00pm, followed by a 30-minute student networking session. Under the theme ‘Reimagining Travel in a Changing World’, the forum will explore how evolving global policies and shifting traveller behaviours are reshaping the industry. As Gen Z seek careers that align with their values—particularly around sustainability, cultural connection, and social impact—they are redefining what it means to build a career in travel, pushing the industry to adapt and innovate.

The line-up for ITT Future You is currently being finalised, with a number of high-profile executives already confirmed, including Kate Irwin, managing director EMEA at travel intelligence media company Skift, as well as a panel of this year’s TTG 30 under 30 Tomorrow’s Travel Leader’s.

Last year’s forum was one of the most successful ever, with speakers including Jo Ryzmowska, best known for her leadership roles at Royal Caribbean Group across two decades and recent recipient of an MBE for her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the travel and tourism sectors.

As well as the annual forum at WTM London, ITT Future You is active year-round. It’s “On the Road” initiative is the branding for a series of events it runs for tourism students at UK universities. It is also building a global presence, running ITT Future You events in Brazil and Kenya in partnership with the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership, as well as a series of online industry-led masterclasses.

Claire Steiner, Chair of Education and Training at the Institute of Travel and Tourism and ITT Future You co-founder comments: “Our longstanding relationship with WTM London has helped ITT Future You to cement its role as the leading industry led student initiative helping inspire and deliver more value for tourism students and recent graduates.”

Chris Carter-Chapman, Event Director at WTM London, comments: “ITT Future You is an initiative that WTM is proud to support. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the best and brightest students and graduates to the world’s most influential travel and tourism event this November.

Our collaboration with ITT Future You is all about human connection and making sure that there is a pipeline of talented and committed individuals keen to join our vitally important global industry.”

A new agreement signed at TTG ExperienceToscana Promozione Turistica signs a new international tourism cooperation agreement with the Regional Agency for Tourism Promotion of Alentejo, Portugal on 9 October at 12.30 p.m., on the second day of TTG Experience in Rimini. Francesco Tapinassi, director of Toscana Promozione Turistica, and Jose Santos, president of the Alentejo agency, are signing the agreement in the presence of Marcelo Rebanda, director of Portugal’s national tourism agency in Italy. The signing is to be followed by a tasting of Tuscan products with Alentejo wines. 

A shared cultural and nature heritage

This is the tenth international agreement for the Toscana Promozione Turistica agency. The memorandum launches joint promotional actions based on the destinations’ shared strengths which go from their UNESCO heritage, wine tourism (lower Alentejo is European City of Wine 2026), parks and nature reserves, cycling and walking itineraries to outdoor activities, industrial tourism, and their rich food and olive oil traditions. 

Fostering international cooperation 

Tuscany and Alentejo further combine authentic landscapes with sustainable innovation, enhance local communities and transform tangible and intangible assets into meaningful travel experiences. The partnership fosters visibility, international cooperation, and new development opportunities, strengthening the global positioning of both destinations.

ItalyScape posted steady results in 2024 despite a decline in US tourist numbers.

Growth in the high-spending segment 

Despite concerns about the decline in US tourism in Italy, ItalyScape confirms its 2024 turnover, with a steady presence of foreign customers, both individuals and groups, and growth in the high-spending segment.

“Fewer groups and a move towards extending the season”

“The world of tourism is changing. One of the most evident trends is the increase in last-minute bookings by individual travellers, with a significant peak recorded in September. Group tourism is also evolving, there are fewer groups, but they demand increasingly customized services. Another trend that is emerging is a greater openness of foreign travellers towards different seasons and less-travelled destinations. There is a desire to discover a more authentic Italy, far from the traditional circuits and the peaks of overtourism,” says Italyscape’s CEO Vincenzo Emprin. 

Naples and Palermo are on the rise

“Italy continues to exert an irresistible charm on visitors who prize its best-known attractions but also look with growing interest at evolving destinations. At the top of the list of requests are the great classics of luxury and beauty like the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como and the great art cities. But a new destinations on the rise are Naples and Palermo These two cities have a strong identity, urban redevelopment, new hotel openings and an increasingly attractive offer for today's travellers.”

“Service, creativity and speed are what set us apart”

In this constantly evolving scenario, ItalyScape manages to respond to every request - even at the last minute - thanks to a solid and flexible network of suppliers, facilities and multilingual local guides. “People are not all the same, and neither are trips,-  comments Emprin.  -The real luxury today is to understand what each customer is looking for, to offer authentic experiences, and to have the readiness to respond in real time. Service, creativity, speed: this is what they are asking us for, and this is what sets us apart.”

Growing requests from the USA, Brazil, Singapore and Mexico

ItalyScape works with an increasingly international client portfolio with 60% of clients from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, France and new, fast-growing markets such as Singapore, Australia, Mexico and Brazil. Another important trend concerns the travel agencies: the number of requests to handle incoming foreign clients is growing, especially from the USA, Brazil, Singapore, Mexico. ItalyScape confirms itself as the ideal partner, thanks to quotations and documentation in English, French and Spanish, expert and multilingual local guides, and last but not least, an always active concierge service, for any emergency, booking or change in progress.

Ivana Jelinic knows exactly what she wants, and those who have known her for a long time will tell you she has always been that way. Clear and determined. A trait that is ideally matched to her role as managing director of ENIT, the Italian National Tourist Board.

“The season went well, the main trend is quite clear, many Italians preferred to go abroad while international tourists came to Italy. It’s worth remembering that, as all the studies show, our country commands exceptional interest and recognition internationally.”  Haven’t certain sectors seen a surge? “Yes, luxury has done very well. And it’s a segment that attracts a lot of investment, like the hotel chains that invest here with new five-star properties.”

There must be a reason why, after so many years, you still work with such focus?  "Of course. The point is that working with continuity, with a stable ministry and a stable ENIT, allows you to plan effectively. This is fundamental for any activity, not just tourism. You are able to plan for the medium to long term, and this allows you to increase the credibility of the sector. Many international players have already finalized their 2027 business plans.”

I think there are other consequences of what you call stability. "Of course. Incredibly we are beginning to extend the season, for hoteliers it now starts in April and ends in November, something that was unthinkable a few years ago. In short, we are talking about a seasonality that if it hasn't doubled, is about to." Yet many Italians missed out on holidays for financial reasons “Yes, that’s true. But let me say that many went abroad for two reasons. Firstly, because there are competitive destinations, while in Italy there can be a lack of services. Let's face it, in some parts of Italy the price and the services are not up to the mark and need to be improved. Secondly, there are low budget countries like Tunisia and Egypt that are very attractive and attract Italian holidaymakers. And in some parts of Italy the difficulty of connections is a bottleneck that is difficult to overcome.”

Let's talk about the WTTC summit that will take place in Rome from 28 to 30 September. "The summit is a world event. There will be ministers, CEOs, authorities, and all this will put Italy at the forefront of the global spotlight. Of course, it’s also a chance to promote Italy as a hub for investment and development. Our goal is to highlight not just the classic historical destinations, but also the lesser-known areas, rich in culture, history, gastronomy, and wine, that offer experiences of the highest quality.”

From what I see your role involves working on multiple fronts. “It does indeed, also because in addition to the day-to-day, we are present at all the world's trade fairs. For the World Travel Market in London in November we will bring 600 companies to the ENIT stand. This has never been done before. And we have many companies still on the waiting list.”

This focus on lesser-known destinations is interesting. “We are doing it by highlighting niche specialisms and innovating our product offering. Traditional models are out of date. This is why we are focusing on emerging markets, pursuing a policy of engagement, and maintaining a strong presence in global tourism.”

Italy reveals itself in a new dimension, through sound. The Places of Belsentire (I Luoghi del Belsentire) are a new way of discovering Italy.  

A new sensory way to discover Italy

Belsentire is Italian for beautiful listening or mindful listening, and these places invite travelers, locals, and cultural enthusiasts to experience Italy not just visually, but also audibly. Launched in 2023 by FKL, Artéco APS, Vigevano Web, and CREA, this pioneering project transforms listening into a cultural and sensory journey that presents Italy’s soundscapes as a shared heritage. So far the Luoghi del Belsentire project has officially recognized over 30 locations and each new addition is celebrated with events that highlight the auditory experiences unique to each of these places.

Sa Stiddiosa Sardinia

Five new Belsentire places have just joined the network 

Five new locations have just been added to the Belsentire network: from the mystical Grotte di San Michele in Santarcangelo di Romagna and the Cortile della Scuola Carducci in Cesena both in the Emilia Romagna region, to the cascading waters of Sa Stiddiosa in Sardinia, the MicroMuseum of Contemporary Art in Sipicciano in Lazio, and the La Valle Luminosa valley in Calabria’s Sila Park.  “Soundscapes are an intangible treasure belonging to everyone,- explains Francesco Michi, project co-founder. -Listening attentively preserves the memory of places and communities. The Places of Belsentire provide tools for deeper engagement, creating experiences and fostering new forms of cultural participation.”

Torre di Sipicciano, Graffignano (VT) – Micro Museum of Contemporary Art of Tuscia – Photo © Bruno Bettati

Digital signage and interactive content

The initiative aims to create a national map of acoustic landmarks with plaques and QR codes that allow visitors to access continuously updated digital archives with interactive content, audio paths, and detailed information.  From wild natural landscapes to urban courtyards and intimate museums The Places of Belsentire celebrate the diversity of Italy’s acoustic identity. By listening attentively visitors contribute to preserving and valorizing these soundscapes, and they get to experience Italy in a profoundly intimate and immersive way.

For information: www.luoghidelbelsentire.it