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| Italy has always been a true oasis of knownledge,
a place for meeting and comparison where experiences can be exchanged and influences intersected. Environment and
quality make Italy a perfect destination for the traveller and businessman. The tradition of the Grand Tour, encouraged
by the Enlightenment in the 18th. century and by the rich bourgeiosie during the following century has now become
a mass phenomenon, and modern tourism brings over 15 billions of dollars into Italy every year. Behind this «
uncontrollable desire » to visit Italy is probably the variety of things to do and see, places to visit,
people to meet. Tour operators the world over know and appreciate this great variety. |
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In a world where there is an ever growing mobility from a geographical, professional
and cultural point of view and work tends to be conducted more on an individual basis than before and be more specialized,
a country like Italy which offers stimulating environments, a good climate and a variety and wealth of history
and culture is also ideal for conventions, which are of course connected with travel, holidays and tourism.
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Participants at conventions in any region of Italy find fully-equipped centers and
beautiful venues, often in particularly prestigious places and which are efficiently organized. In fact the options
for venues are so numerous as to be quite unique the world over. In addition to the traditional convention centers
and big hotels with congress facilities, one can choose from a wide range of old palaces, castles, historic residences,
resorts, magnificent villas and country seats, often set in parks in the Italian style with fountains, lakes and
plenty of vegetation, carefully chosen and well tended. |
Here is an inextricable fabric of landscape and architecture, works of art and
traditions which distinguish Italy from other countries and make it the «ideal place» for conventions
in all four seasons, for work and pleasure. And this is a great advantage for the congress-goer because work and
pleasure are becoming more strongly linked all the time. The exchange of information, feelings and opinions which
one particular group of individuals takes part in at a congress is unlimited, and direct exchanges cannot be substituted
by even the most powerful media.
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The congress world is a business in itself, whose importance can be seen from the
following figures: in 1999 8,100 international congresses were held in the world, meaning that people attended
from countries other than the host nation. The data furnished by the UAI (Union des Associations Internationales)
shows Italy as being fifth in Europe and sixth among the orga-nizing countries with 384 congresses. This activity
creates tourism of a high quality which integrates the congress work and stimulates the economy. |
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