The final day of the Meet 2024, the Strait Tourism Meeting, now in its second edition and which embraced this year the entire area between Messina and Reggio Calabriarecorded the meetings between the 22 international buyers and over 30 local tourism operators, involved, through a specific public notice, by the Metropolitan City of Reggio.
The final event, attended by buyers and tourist operators from Reggio, took place in the splendid location of the Altafiumara Hotel Resort in Villa San Giovanni (RC), a unique view of the Strait which also hosted a round table roundabout on tourism and the presentation of the ‘Sellers’, tourist companies representing B&Bs, hotels, itineraries, boat trips, tourist consortia (Ionian, Tyrrhenian and city).
The buyers’ comments at the end of the experience in the metropolitan area of Reggio Calabria were very flattering, most appreciated, the environmental, cultural and landscape beauties, the food and wine, the traditions and the general welcoming climate.
For the ‘Sellers’ it was a moment of constructive and productive comparison with international operators, capable of bringing a return in terms of attendance.
“In the past there have been other experiences of this type – some local tourism operators said – but not in these terms of numbers or quality of interest towards the Reggio territory. For this we thank the commitment of the Metropolitan City and of the mayor Giuseppe Falcomatà”.
Ligia Hofnar, Marketing and Event Manager Network@Comunication said: “I would like to start by thanking you for the opportunity that was given to us, not only as a company that brought the buyer for this edition of Meet, but above all on behalf of all the buyers who took part, because most of them had never seen Calabria or Reggio Calabria, some knew Sicily, but Reggio very little. It was a surprise for everyone, both from a cultural point of view because it is clear that Magna Grecia has left its mark on the entire history, the culture of the city, but also for what it offers from a tourist point of view”.
“It is difficult to take stock of what we liked the most, between culture and the sea. The professional approach of these buyers – he added – is cultural, capable of bringing medium-high category tourists from all over the world. However, the beauty of the sea of the Strait is unparalleled, it left us with that ‘wow’ effect from dawn and especially at sunset. The last evening in Scilla and Chianalea – concluded – Hofnar – was a succession of admiration of the lights on the sea, of the night colors on the water. So I think it was a wonderful thing and worth it “.
For the municipal councilor with responsibility for Tourism Giovanni Latella who has followed all the phases of the project from the beginning: “The second Meeting of Tourism of the Strait has concluded and they have been six important days. Precisely for this I thank the mayor of Messina Federico Basile, the mayor of Reggio Calabria, Giuseppe Falcomatà and the councilor for Tourism of Messina, Enzo Caruso who strongly supported this event to be held for the entire Strait area. An event – he added – that in my opinion has had a fundamental importance for the entire territory: we are talking about the Strait Area that embraces a reality from Stilo to the entire Costa Viola, and from Taormina to the Aeolian Islands. It has managed to give the opportunity to make itself known and appreciated, bringing out the economic potential offered by the tourism sector. We are talking about an area that has 2,700 years of history, culture, to which we add sports, sea and mountains. Those who participated in Reggio Calabria – he highlighted – in these two days were also struck by the beauty of the traditions, not only by the many cultural treasures that each reality of our area possesses, of the food and wine, but also by the musical folklore of the tradition. Today with the B2B – he concluded – we have registered further positive elements that convince us of the path taken”.
