The 10th edition of the Buy
Tourism Online (BTO) online tourism expo in Florence on November
29 and 30 saw over 160 events with more than 200 presenters in
new technology and digital tourism, including main operators in
the sector such as Google, Facebook, Airbnb, Trivago,
Tripadvisor, Booking, and Expedia.
The expo focused on best practices in areas including
cybersecurity against online fraud and new digital frontiers
such as artificial intelligence.
In addition to key themes such as online safety, other topics
included Asia as an emerging market, and the application of
artificial intelligence in the travel field.
The event was capped off by the December 1 event with
Ecosistemi Digitali (Digital Ecosystems), which highlighted
Italy's leading role in the areas of digital tourism and
innovation.
More than 100 participants attended the event, with experts
from the startup country in the sector including representatives
from the Italian Culture Ministry MiBACT, regional governments,
the Tuscan Tourism Promotion, and the Italian Tourism Board
(ENIT), to discuss spreading best practices in digital tourism.
"On the hospitality side, the top best practices presented
were those that have developed a direct contact with people who
live in a particular area," said the director of Tuscan Tourism
Promotion, Alberto Peruzzini.
"It's a factor that, for a region like Tuscany, has become an
essential need in terms of tourism promotion. Regarding
narration, the need to work on innovative forms of tourism is
emerging, to make an effort to move away from stereotypes and
find different people who are able to tell about their
experience in an authentic way," he said.
During the BTO expo, Italian environmental association
Legambiente awarded 15 tourism structures with their "Oscars for
Ecotourism" 2018, a prize that goes to hotels, bathing
establishments, farm stays, parks, and protected areas that have
adopted innovative practices and the best solutions for
eco-sustainability.
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