The increase in visits and the opening of new foreign tourist flows confirm and encourage the marketing strategies introduced this year by the new board of directors and projected for the next two years.
Castellana Grotte, August 5th 2013 – With a view to networking with industry professionals, consolidating and relaunching the Apulian karst site within the European tourism landscape, the Castellana Caves participated, at the stand of the National Union of Entrepreneurs and Farmers of Puglia (UNSIC), at the RDA Workshop, an event dedicated to bus tourism, which took place from July 23 to 25 in Cologne, Germany.
Founded in 1951, the RDA is Europe's leading federation for coach and group tourism, with approximately three thousand member companies in over forty countries and over seventy branches. Members include coach companies, tour operators, tourism federations, tourism marketing organizations, cultural event agencies, tourist attraction organizers, hotels, and restaurants. The event's primary goal is to bring together national and international economists and politicians to exchange ideas and projects and discuss new services.
"We have seen a lot of interest in our area – comments the doctor. Giulia Monaco, executive officer of Grotte Srl, who has personally experienced the Teutonic trade fair experience – and this is confirmed by the increase in foreign tourist flows visiting the Castellana Caves recorded in the last quarter".
The Cologne Workshop is one of six events planned abroad to promote the beauty and tourism value of the karst site. The Castellana Caves have obtained accreditation to participate in the trade fairs in Lugano, Kiev, and Moscow, with their own stand, and in the upcoming workshop in Bucharest. This will benefit from funding provided through the call for proposals "For the Granting of Vouchers for Internationalization" by the Bari Chamber of Commerce, which provides 70% non-repayable funding. The remaining 30% will be covered by sponsorships from private individuals, initiated by the Caves' President.
“We are also strongly focusing on the market abroad – underlines the President Domi Ciliberti And the initial results, in terms of attendance, are proving us right. From May to July, we recovered the 20% deficit accumulated in the first four months of 2013. This is largely the result of the co-marketing initiatives promoted in the area, a strategy that, to date, has attracted more than a thousand visitors thanks to promotional vouchers. Not least - goes on Ciliberti the increase in visitors from Russia, Germany, and England. We hope that the next four international events where the Caves will be present will contribute even more significantly to achieving our objectives."
Grotte di Castellana Srl Press Office:
Serena Greco
Cell 0039.348.7649373
