Rome and Lazio region announces luxury holiday offerings at ATM 2008

The presence of the Italian Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Mr Paolo Dionisi, further highlighted the importance and weight of the announcements.

"The Government is willing to invest more on developing the tourism sector in Italy. We are already working on moderating travel procedures to attain increased tourist influx," said the Italian Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Paolo Dionisi at a press conference in Arabian Travel Market, the region's premier travel and tourism event being held at the Dubai International Exhibition & Convention Centre from 6th until 9th May 2008. "We will soon organise a workshop aimed at improving tourism between Italy and the UAE."

Other representatives included Mr. Francesco Ventura, General Director of Promotions, Lazio Region Department of Tourism; Mr. Roberto Diacetti, General Director ,Roma 2009 Organizing Committee; Ms. Sara Foi, Managing Director, Lazio Region Department of Tourism; Mr. Marco Bruschini, Director Promotion Department, Enit (Italian Tourist board) and Ms. Silvia Frachey, Managing Director - APTRL, S.p.A. (Agency for the Promotion of Tourism in Rome and Lazio).

With more than 150 castles in the Lazio region, guests travelling from the Middle East will have a wide range of choice when looking for grand venues and majestic properties. Lazio also offers high quality spa facilities such as a variety of wellness centres as well as Hammams in Rome providing tourists with the opportunity to relax and unwind during their luxury break. The luxury services also extend to sporting events, as illustrated by the world famous Piazza di Siena festival, a 4 day steeplechase event held in the beautiful Villa Borghese of Rome.

The speakers also detailed the introduction of new industry laws, improved infrastructures and communications such as a new airport in Viterbo and other enhanced transportation facilities, which the Italian tourist board believes will give valuable support to the sector and will enrich visitor experience.

"Official figures for 2006 showed a flow of 50,000 travellers from the Middle East to Italy, with an increase of ten percent of those targeting Rome between 2005 and 2006. Dubai is similarly a popular destination for Italian travellers and the new air links between the UAE and Italy will have clear benefits for both of the regions. The increase in tourist traffic from Italy to Dubai grew from 28,000 arrivals in the year 2000 to 40,400 in the year 2006", said Mr Francesco Ventura, general director at The Tourism Department of Rome and Lazio.

"Rome and the Lazio region have worked to improve and optimize our tourist services. Infrastructures, services, industry-related laws have all been addressed as part of this development program. As a result, major improvements have been generated which we feel will be well-received by the Middle East market," he added.

These results during the six year period include: the approved construction of a new airport in Viterbo, a 30% increase in the number of 5 star properties in the city of Rome alone and the launches of new international events such as the Rome Film Festival. Live concerts in iconic venues such as the Colosseum have been made possible as well as the opening or renovation of archaeological sites including Palazzo Valentini.

Mr Ventura explained how Middle East tourists visiting Rome with interests in history and archaeology will also benefit from the developments, saying; "We have worked to produce the Roma&Più Pass which offers three days of unlimited use of public transport, free entrance to two museums and discounts to other places of interest. And later this year, 3DRewind Rome™, our first virtual interactive centre, will offer a historically accurate reconstruction of ancient Rome."

Mr Bruschini, Director, Promotion Department, Enit (Italian Tourist board) announced that; "The evident increase of mutual interest has resulted in a commercial and touristic relationship between our two countries. As such, we have been making contact to explore the possibility of opening an Enit office here in Dubai. This we hope verifies the growing link between Italy and the Middle East."

Rome and Lazio's appeal as a destination for sporting events was also highlighted with the announcement that in 2009 Rome will be hosting the World Swimming Championships, with nearly 3000 athletes from 170 nations, as revealed by Mr Diacetti of the Roma 2009 Organising Committee. Mr Diacetti said: "Roma 2009 Championships will take place over 16 days alongside the Aquatic Festival from the 18th of July to 2nd August. We are excited and very proud that Rome was chosen as the destination for this global sporting event."

The Lazio region appeals to business travellers also. The new Fiera di Roma convention centre and the construction approval for 'La Nuvola' a major new congress and convention centre, cement Rome's position as one of the largest and well-equipped convention sites in Europe.