A commercial mission organized by the Galician Tourism Cluster, in collaboration with Turismo de Galicia, landed last week in Italy to participate in the TTG Travel Experience fair in Rimini, one of the two most relevant professional events in the tourism sector in Italy. The companies Hotel Riazor, Eat & Walkabout and Hotel Castro Castro represented the Galician offer.
The day before the fair, or Travel Open Day, served as an initial meeting point between Italian operators and Galician representatives, with an average of 20 meetings per company. These meetings allowed us to establish new commercial contacts and reinforce the visibility of Galicia as a cultural, gastronomic and spiritual destination.
The fair maintains its distinctly Italian character, although the presence of international operators grows each year, expanding the possibilities for cooperation with new markets. Among the main inbound operators based in San Marino and Italy are Itermar, SM Viaggi, Podium, Ace Tours, Michelangelo, and Titan Travel, agencies specializing in group and cultural tourism.
Among the key findings is the increased interest of Italian and international tour operators in the Portuguese Way and the English Way, routes that are gaining prominence compared to the French Way. Increased demand was also detected for accommodations and hostels linked to the Jacobean routes, especially in destinations such as Fisterra.
Likewise, an increase in activity was observed with South American tourists, who are seeking religious itineraries that include Fátima, Santiago, Zaragoza, and Lourdes as main destinations. The Italian professionals also highlighted Galicia’s potential as a spiritual and cultural destination, especially in view of the 2027 Jacobean Year, when an increase in religiously motivated travel is expected.
The trade mission also provided an opportunity to gather feedback on the challenges of air connectivity, as some Italian and Latin American agencies continue to operate through Lisbon and Porto due to frequency and fare issues.
The Galician presence in Rimini consolidates the Cluster’s internationalization efforts, which continue to strengthen ties with European and emerging markets and boost the visibility of Galicia as a destination.