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In a golden year for sport, Bit launches Bit Sportland

In a golden year for sport, Bit launches Bit Sportland

A new themed area at Bit 2010 will be dedicated to three great outdoor sports: golf, cycling and the mountains. Supply and demand for sport tourism will come together in 5,000 m², divided into an exhibition village and three fabulous environments for demonstrations by big-name champions and where visitors can try out their favourite sport.
Milan, 18 February 2010 – This year sees a wealth of exciting sporting events. For sailing there is the 33rd America’s Cup already underway in Valencia: after the first regatta yesterday, now fans are waiting for Wednesday and the result of the second and Friday with the third to decide the winner between the defender Alinghi and the record challenger Golden Gate Yacht Club. From water to snow: in just a few days time, 12 February to be exact, the Winter Olympics in Vancouver will be inaugurated, continuing throughout Bit and until 28 February with participation by around 600 athletes from 80 countries.
Finally in the summer there will be the most eagerly awaited appointment for the Italians: the World Cup in South Africa, from 11 June to 11 July, with the Italian team playing in an atmosphere of expectation-laden tension as defenders of the title, the fourth for the National team, won in 2006 in Germany.
A YEAR OF SPORT, A YEAR OF SPORTLAND – In an intense year for all sports fans, Bit launches Bit Sportland, the new themed Bit area dedicated to outdoor sport tourism. Bit Sportland is a dedicated area of around 5,000 m², a strategically integrated part of Bit in halls 6-10. Focussing on three of the most popular open-air sports, golf, cycling and the mountains, Bit Sportland will provide two levels of interaction: an exhibition village will showcase both technical and tourism products and there will also be three themed show zones. Here, big-impact environments will recreate the settings most popular with fans, where the Public of Travellers will be able not only to admire professional demonstrations, but also personally try out the various sports.
SPORT EXPERIENCED ‘LIVE’ – Visitors will get an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of top-level golf in 850 m² housing the faithful reproduction of one of the most famous holes in the world, against a vivid backdrop copied from the original setting. For cycling lovers there will be a 40×40 m area suitable both for Mtb and e-bikes, power-assisted cycles, where they can have fun trying out the technical products on show. The mountains will be represented by a system of 16-metre tall overhanging towers and artificial Boulders, with climbing routes prepared in collaboration with the Mountain Kingdom Alpine guides, enabling even newbies to try the excitement of bouldering.
SPORT & BUSINESS – The exhibition village will be reserved for a selected group of Operators divided into technical (producers and distributors of sports articles) and tourist (hotel, resort, golf club, tourist operator categories). Exhibitors at Bit Sportland will have the opportunity to personally meet sports players, fans and the merely curious in a dedicated big-impact setting, identified as business opportunities by quantitative and qualitative assessment of the number of those practising the sport, their inclination to travel and average spending power. In this scenario, Bit Sportland suggests a new holiday concept that meets the needs of these users who are ready to become discerning aware Travellers who follow their sporting passion on the move.
A GROWING MARKET – Bit Sportland thus satisfies a market with growing demand, creating new opportunities for the development of tourism in Italy: according to statistics, 15 million Italians are ‘open-air tourists’. Over 700,000 people practise mountain sports (source: Cai), with 2,300,000 skiers and 450,000 snowboarders accounting for a turnover in the snow sector of over 1 billion euro, while at least 2 million are cyclists (source: Aicma-Federciclismo). Overall, 59% of the population in Italy actively practises sport, in particular in Northern Italy. A business worth 51 billion euro, 2.7-3% of the GDP (source: Censis).
The 30th edition of Bit – International Tourism Exchange will be held at the fieramilano exhibition centre in Rho from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 February 2010. For information updates: www.bit.fieramilano.it.
admin | Feb 18, 2010 | Comments 0
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In Bit a new area for sport tourism

In Bit a new area for sport tourism

Bit 2010 , the International Tourism Exchange scheduled from 18 to 21 February in Fiera Milano (Rho), will be hosting the first Bit Sportland, dedicated to outdoor tourism: mountain sports, cycling and golf.

In 5,000 square metres (in halls 6 and 10) visitors will find a display village with technical and tourism propositions, and three spectacular settings where they can watch professional performances and where they have the opportunity of trying out the different sports.

Statistics show that 15 million Italians ‘experience outdoor tourism’.

More than 700 thousand are involved in mountaineering (source: CAI – Italian Alpine Club), two million 300 thousand skiers and 450 thousand snowboarders for a turnover in the snow sector of more than 1 billion euro, while at least 2 million practice cycling sports (source: Ancma-Federciclismo). Overall 59% of Italians are involved in sports, particularly in Northern Italy. A 51-billion Euro business, 2.7-3% of the GDP (source: Censis).

In this scenario, Bit Sportland creates new tourist development opportunities for local communities, offering a new holiday concept that fulfils the needs of these users who are willing to turn into demanding and experienced travellers to enjoy their sports passion while travelling.

In particular, visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of great golf in an area of 850 sq m that will host a faithful reproduction of one of the most famous holes in the world, with a vivid background setting of the original context.

Cycling lovers will be treated to a 40×40 sq m structure suitable for mountain bike and e-bike riding, as well as powered bicycles and they can have fun trying out the technical products on display.


A system of 16-metre high overhanging towers and Boulder structures will be dedicated to mountain sports and free climbing routes will be marked out in collaboration with the mountaineering guides from Mountain Kingdom, so even newcomers to this sport can experience the thrill of climbing with their bare hands.

Remember that BIT is only open to the general public on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February. Thursday 18th and Friday 19th are reserved for the trade.

admin | Feb 10, 2010 | Comments 0
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World Travel Awards names the greatest travel triumphs of the Noughties

World Travel Awards names the greatest travel triumphs of the Noughties

The dawn of space tourism, the launch of Tripadvisor, online check-in, and jetting off to Dubai for sun and shopping, are among the greatest travel triumphs of the Noughties, according to the World Travel Awards.

The World Travel Awards top ten travel triumphs of the decade are:
1. Dawn of space tourism (2001)
2. Citizen publishing and the launch of Tripadvisor (2002)
3. Low-cost flying revolution (2000 onwards)
4. Dubai Goldrush (2002)
5. Emergence of BRIC economies (2000 onwards)
6. Online check-in (2000)
7. Superjumbo Airbus A380 inaugural flight (2007)
8. Mid-haul – the new short haul
9. Ocean bling and Oasis of the Seas (2009)
10. Launch of Youtube (2005)

The World Travel Awards recognises best practice within the industry, and encourages organisations worldwide to raise the customer travel experience to new levels of excellence.

Manon Han, Executive Vice President, World Travel Awards said: “World Travel Awards is all about finding the excellence in the industry and we are pleased to be naming the greatest travel triumphs of the past decade. These have changed the landscape and the way we travel for the benefit of tourism tomorrow.

“The World Travel Awards has been celebrating excellence in travel for 17 years, and we look forward to another decade of innovation and evolution.”

The poll comes as the entry deadline for the 2010 World Travel Awards closes this weekend. Organisations wishing to enter the “Oscars of the travel industry” must submit their nominations by 14 February.

The organisers report that this year is set to be the most hotly-contested yet with a record number of entries, ranging from household travel brands to newly-launched boutique products, all vying to scoop the highest accolade in travel.

Leading organisations can nominate themselves to enter the World Travel Awards 2010, with the winners from six regional events progressing to the Grand Final in November.

The official entry form can be downloaded at www.worldtravelawards.com/selfentry2010, with the deadline for receipt of entries 14 February 2010.

The World Travel Awards 2010 nominations will be announced on the 10th March.

admin | Feb 09, 2010 | Comments 0
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Bit Sportland, for those who love outdoor tourism

Bit Sportland, for those who love outdoor tourism

A new theme area targeted to outdoor vacations
attracting millions of people also in terms of purchasing and traveling choices
Creating new opportunities for local tourism development through a new vacation concept, i.e. enjoying your sports passion while traveling. This is the mission of BIT Sportland, a new area covering 5,000 sqm in Pavilions 6 and 10 divided into three exhibition sections.
Bicycling: bicycle riding – road and track riding – mountain bike (allmountain, enduro e-bike);
Mountain sports: mountaneering, ski touring, freeclimbing, bouldering, canyoning, ice sports;
Golf (from practicing courses to Pebble Beach).
Bit Sportland creates new opportunities of tourism development for the local communities, offering a new vacation concept fulfilling the needs of these users who are willing to turn into demanding and experienced travelers to enjoy their sports passion while traveling.
This project is targeted to outdoor sports and therefore it is organized on two levels, i.e. an exhibition village presenting both technical and tourism propositions, and three theme-focused display zones staging performances by professionals while also giving the public the opportunity to test practice the different sports.
admin | Feb 03, 2010 | Comments 0
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Top Ten Adventures for 2010 Revealed

Top Ten Adventures for 2010 Revealed

LONDON, January 6 /PRNewswire/ — “Staring down into the smouldering eyes of a tiger from the back of an elephant in India’s Kanha National Park“: that has been selected as the world’s greatest travel adventure by a jury of the UK’s top explorers, adventurers and award-winning writers.
The list was drawn up on behalf of Adventure Travel Live, which takes place in London from 29 to 31 January.
For the past two months, travel luminaries including Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler, explorer Benedict Allen and broadcaster Simon Calder have been assessing the most intense adventures on the planet. And the chance of getting close to a tiger in the wild – while such a possibility exists – was judged to be even more thrilling than skiing down a live volcano on the Japanese island of Hokkaido or diving with hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos.
Another wildlife experience – an encounter with mountain gorillas in Rwanda – took fourth place, just ahead of two great hikes that shared fifth spot: the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Larrapinta Trail in Australia’s Northern Territory.
“The ultimate railway adventure,” Russia’s Trans-Siberian, took seventh place, just ahead of hot-air ballooning over Tanzania’s Serengeti. A hike through the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar took ninth position, while South America’s third appearance completed the top 10: exploring the wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal.
Simon Calder said: “Whatever tribulations the economy may deliver, the British spirit of adventure is alive and well. Travellers are turning their backs on the beach and going to extremes to satisfy a craving for adrenalin-fuelled experiences.”
Top 10 adventures

1 Tiger tracking on elephants, Kanha National Park, India
“You’ll never get so close to a tiger in the wild.” – Bryn Thomas
2 Skiing on Asahidake, Hokkaido, Japan
“Asahidake is the island’s highest mountain and sends out a stream of smoke from its vents. Hokkaido enjoys eight metres of snow a year, and the powder is some of the most consistently excellent in the world.” – Perry Wilson
3 Diving with hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos
“With basic scuba skills you can safely dive with these fabulous, iconic sharks – in the company of so many of them that you lose count.” – Paul Rose
4 Encounter with mountain gorillas in Rwanda
“Nothing rivals a close-up with our closest relatives. It is at altitude, in a rainforest, with no paths. The trek can take five hours. Worth it – massively, emotionally – and it helps this poor, war-ravaged country.” – Paul Goldstein
5 = Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru
“Popular though this three-day trek is, nothing can prepare you for the awesome first sight of the ‘lost’ city of the Incas as you round the trail on the last day, seeing it perched high above the Urumaba with the mist swirling around it.” – Bryn Thomas.
5 = Larapinta Trail in Australia’s Northern Territory.
“Classic Outback country: dry, dramatic, lots of wildlife … the ‘dry’ component would normally make it unwalkable, until the establishment of regular water tanks made it one of Australia’s best hikes.” – Tony Wheeler
7 Trans-Siberian Railway, Russia.
“The greatest rail adventure of them all. I’d suggest the weekly Moscow-Mongolia-Beijing train. It’s six nights and over 5,000 miles across Siberia, the Gobi Desert and through the Great Wall for as little as GBP410. You can even start your trip at St Pancras.” – Mark Smith
8 Hot-air ballooning over the Serengeti of Tanzania.
“Even if there are no migrating herds, just to pass over the African savannah in silence is something you will never forget.” – Benedict Allen
9 Hiking the Grand Tsingy Circuit, Madagascar
“Tsingy are grotesque pinnacles and spikes of limestone creating the world’s most exotic rock garden. Rare succulents shelter in the gullies that visitors cross using boardwalks, ladders and bridges. An extraordinary experience on an extraordinary island.” – Hilary Bradt
10 The wildlife of the Pantanal, Brazil
“Check out giant otters, caimans, jaguars, green iguanas and more.” – Tim Fryer
So if you want to do something more adventurous than sunbathing on the beach this year, blaze a trail to Adventure Travel Live to learn about some of the most inspiring adventures on the planet.
Adventure Travel Live takes place at the Royal Horticultural Halls, London SW1 on 29, 30 and 31 January 2010.
admin | Jan 07, 2010 | Comments 0
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Active tourism and audio guides, new proposals from FORMENTERA at FITUR 2010

Active tourism and audio guides, new proposals from FORMENTERA at FITUR 2010

Hiking, cycling and Nordic Walking are the main tourism proposals being presented by FORMENTERA at FITUR 2010. Visitors to the stand can discover all the island’s new products, its wide-ranging active tourism activities and attractions.
Formentera currently boasts 20 routes which can be made on foot or by bicycle to discover hidden gems such as the Faro del Cap de Barbaria. These already existing routes have resting areas and suitable signage for enthusiasts of the increasingly popular sport of Nordic Walking, which originates from the Nordic countries and consists of vigorous walking with the aid of sticks. The island also offers the chance to carry out a whole host of water sports such as scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, kayaking and windsurfing.
The new Formentera Tourism website and the creation of audio guides are other new incorporations that trade fair visitors can discover on the FORMENTERA stand. The audio guides picked up from the island’s tourist information offices and will allow tourists to travel to diverse points of the island.
Formentera is attending FITUR 2010 together with the Balearic Islands with a similar stand to last year’s show. This year the image of Rafael Nadal will be promoting both the community and each individual island with its product range including Sun and Beach, Nautical, Golf, Nature (cycling tourism, Nordic walking and hiking), Meetings (conventions and congresses) and Culture (gastronomy and scenic arts).
admin | Jan 04, 2010 | Comments 0
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Space Travel To Remain The Final Frontier Due To Price Fears

Space Travel To Remain The Final Frontier Due To Price Fears

galacticSpace travel looks set to remain the final undiscovered frontier as price concerns are turning holidaymakers off from becoming space tourists, reveals a survey by leading business-to-business travel and tourism event World Travel Market.

Despite the great strides in space tourism being made by a number of travel companies, including Virgin Galactic which last week unveiled its SpaceShipTwo spacecraft which will take its maiden commercial space voyage in 2011, half of the 1,030 people polled said they are not interested in holidaying in space.

A further 23% only said they might be interested, leaving a mere 27% who said they were interested in travelling into space.

Almost three quarters (74%) of those polled – all of whom took a summer holiday in 2009 – said they feared space travel would remain too expensive and exclusively for the super rich, such as Canadian multi-millionaire Guy Laliberte who paid US$35 million for a 12-day trip into space in October.

Virgin Galactic’s first flight is priced at £122,000 for the two-hour flight from New Mexico, 300 people have already paid in full while a further 82,000 have registered their interest. Test mission on the SpaceShipTwo, which can host six passengers and two pilots, are expected to start next year.

Virgin Galactic expects to spend more than $400 million for a fleet of five commercial spaceships and launch vehicles.

Reports also claim the company has approached the UK Government about establishing a base in Scotland. Despite this only 4% of respondents believe space travel will evolve into an affordable mass-market travel product in the next 30 years.

World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery said: “After countless false dawns, space travel will be a reality. It is not a question of if, it’s just a matter of time and money – but it’s definitely coming.

“It’s disappointing holidaymakers fear they will be priced out of becoming space tourists. However, I’m confident the price will drop dramatically the more space tourism takes off.”

Northern Irish Most Interested in Space Travel

Young males living in Northern Ireland are the most interested in travelling into space.

Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK which has complete faith in space travel becoming an available tourism product in the next 30 years.

A quarter (25%) of people from Northern Ireland believe space travel will become a mass market product – by far the highest percentage of any region and way above the UK figure of 4%. With the remaining 75% believing it will be available for the super rich – making it the only region to have no doubts over the future of space travel.

Of the 27% of respondents who said they would be interested in space travel, the majority were from the 16 – 24 and 25 – 40 year old age groups, with 40% and 39% respectively stating their interest in space travel.
More than one third (35%) of men said they want to travel in to space, compared to only 18% of women.

“The confidence of the Northern Irish in space tourism is refreshing to see. The world has been interested in space tourism since Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969, and it now appears to be within touching distance,” Jeffery added.

East Anglians Least Insterested in Going in to Space

People from East Anglia were least interested in space travel with almost two thirds of respondents from the region stating they are not interested in becoming a space tourist.

Furthermore, a massive 28% – the highest percentage of any region – said they didn’t believe space travel would be available in the next 30 years. 68% felt space travel would only be available for the super rich.

The research, carried out by Fusion Communications on behalf of World Travel Market interviewed 1,030 people who took a summer holiday in 2009.

World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, took place between Monday November 9 and Thursday 12 November. Almost 46,000 travel industry professionals took part in World Travel Market at ExCeL – London.

admin | Dec 15, 2009 | Comments 0
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ATTA’s Trade-Only October 19-22 Adventure Travel World Summit Gains Significant Momentum

Between October 19-22, 2009, in Quebec, Canada, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) will host its 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit. There, roughly 500 travel industry professionals will grapple with issues, share case studies and seek solutions for the unprecedented societal, economic, climatological and geopolitical shifts which have significantly and permanently altered our market.

Tour operators, tourism boards, specialized travel agents, media and other service providers representing more than 50 countries will gain immediate access to the tools, resources and people needed to rapidly adapt to market shifts. Networking, business and professional development, education and intensive interaction among the who’s who of adventure travel are event cornerstones.

For many of the 300 delegates already registered for this year’s Summit, success will be measured in part by the ability to share their own unique business situations: the sharing of individual experiences in a manner that allows them to gain feedback from experts and fellow delegates who can respond directly to their real-world situation and offer advice, insights and solutions. Additionally, three new programs – Meeting of the Minds, Collaborative Learning, and Meet the Press – will provide delegates the chance to get directly involved rather than rely exclusively on traditional, conference speaker/panelist programs. Instead, each Summit programs’ success hinges directly upon delegate input, ideas and sharing of real-world case studies.

And diverse industry perspectives will be fully represented. In fact, organizers are reporting a recent surge of momentum for the Summit, including an increasing number of special adjacency meetings and events that have been added, including the involvement of The International Ecotourism Society, International Standards Organization, V.A.S.T. (Virtuosos Active & Specialty Travel), and others.

Additional background on the Summit agenda, special activities, a list of pre-registered delegates, attending press, and information about the growing list of Summit contributors, is available www.adventuretravelworldsummit.travel.

admin | Sep 17, 2009 | Comments 0
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