Buy Puglia 2018 stopped yesterday afternoon, Tuesday 23 October, at Castellana Caves (Ba): international buyers from 37 different countries visited the karst site, also enjoying performances by the artistic staff of Hell in the Cave and World Dance Movement and the educational tourism offerings of the “Franco Anelli” Speleological Museum.
Buy Puglia – Travel Meeting It is the story of Puglia with all its nuances, from the landscape to nature, from art to culture, from food and wine to meetings and weddings, an appointment with the Apulian tourist offer, organised by Pugliapromozione and the Department of Tourism and Cultural Industry of the Puglia region, now in its sixth edition, with a program that will take place until October 26, 2018.
The Castellana Caves were the focus of the second day of local experiences offered to 150 operators and 130 buyers from 37 different countries. These experiences were included in one of eight different itineraries presented to industry professionals from countries with direct flights to Puglia's airports. Buyers from markets with high tourism development potential, such as Brazil, China, India, Argentina, and North America, also attended.
Representatives of the Buy Puglia group welcomed the Buy Puglia group. Castellana Caves srl and Municipality of Castellana Grotte, the president of Grotte di Castellana srl Victor Casulli, the mayor of Castellana Grotte Francesco De Ruvo and the tourism councilor Gianni Filomeno, and the representatives of the two mainstay events of Crossing Arts, Mimmo Daoli for the World Dance Movement ed Enrico Romita for Hell in the Cave.
Crossing Arts is the project that brings together the Municipality of Castellana Grotte, Grotte di Castellana srl, Hell in the Cave and World Dance Movement and which aims to make Puglia and Castellana Grotte an international hub of the arts and a crossroads of artistic expression.
In the Grave of the Castellana caves (the first cave of the karst complex), the guests were welcomed by a performance of the EleinaD Company for a small representation of the project World Dance Movement and, after a short tour of the cave, the screening of an extract of the show Hell in the Cave.
“Since the beginning of our mandate, one of our objectives has been to implement and consolidate a real tourism system around the Castellana Caves. - commented Victor Casulli, president of Grotte di Castellana srl, head of the Board of Directors also composed of Francesco Manghisi (vice president) and Maria Lacasella (councilor) – We did this by advancing the idea that our karst complex can be the driving force of a system that seamlessly integrates the territory with the beauty of Castellana and beyond, culture and entertainment with the Crossing Arts project, fueled by Hell in the Cave and World Dance Movement, sports with the many events promoted locally, food and wine, and nature with the restoration and enhancement of the pine forest. We are on the right path, also finding support from regional and local stakeholders. Continuing this strategic approach, in the year of our 80th anniversary, is the basis for implementing more incisive actions in 2019, including the possibility of revitalizing the Castellana Caves' tourism offerings on a wide scale..
“When a tourist chooses Puglia as a destination for his holidays – declared the mayor of Castellana Grotte Francesco De Ruvo You can't miss spending a day at the Castellana Caves. Nature has gifted us with a natural resource that offers tourists a one-of-a-kind experience. We must continue along this path to promote the karst site and our town. The benefits of this initiative will be for our entire community..
“It is important to show our best cards to those who allow tourists from all over the world to come to Puglia and visit our caves. – commented the Tourism Councillor Gianni Filomeno Our commitment is to attract the masses of tourists who come to Puglia to our caves using all the tools at our disposal, further increasing the commercial impact not only on the caves but also on the entire country. The partnership established thanks to the Crossing Arts project is the foundation of a broad and varied visitor experience throughout the municipality..
Further information on upcoming events can be found on Grotte di Castellana srl's Facebook and Instagram channels and on the website. www.grottedicastellana.it.
