Tourism: Memorandum of understanding signed between FTO and ETOA
FTO – Federazione Turismo Organizzato of Confcommercio and the European Tourism Association (ETOA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop activities in support of Organised Tourism.
Among the main contents of the document is the possibility of initiating joint actions at the institutional level and creating networking opportunities among their respective members.
Franco Gattinoni, President of FTO – Federazione Turismo Organizzato of Confcommercio, declares: “In the last two years, our federation has made extraordinary progress in terms of territorial and international representation. These two areas of development, running in parallel, allow us to enhance the value offered to our members and to communicate more effectively the added value of Organized Tourism. Thanks to direct and constant contact with associations and operators worldwide and our active role in ECTAA, we can promote networking opportunities, share information and best practices, and oversee institutional activities at the European level. In this direction also goes the new collaboration with ETOA, which will further enhance our role and contribute to the dialogue with Italian destinations, in defining governance and rules that take into account the role and importance that travel agencies and tour operators can offer in the promotion and sustainability of territories and for those who live and work there.”
Tim Fairhurst, Director General of ETOA, adds: “Organised tourism should be part of the solution for destination managers looking to diversify product throughout the year and across their territory. ETOA’s buyers bring year-round cultural tourism business to Italy from global markets. They face growing operational challenges, from ticketing to city access. A sustainable visitor economy matters for Italy: making sure it is better integrated into strategic planning is essential. We are pleased to collaborate with FTO to keep industry interests high up the agenda, provide commercial opportunity, and work with local stakeholders to maximise mutual benefit.”
FTO – Federazione Turismo Organizzato is a member of Confcommercio – Imprese per l’Italia and ECTAA – The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations. It represents Italian businesses in the Organized Tourism sector, bringing together a national network of over 1,900 leading companies in the industry.
Founded in 1989 and based in Brussels and London, ETOA is the trade association for tour operators selling in global markets and the European supply chain and destinations. From international brands to local independent businesses, its membership includes 370 tour operators, online platforms, intermediaries and wholesalers, and over 700 hotels, attractions, technology companies, DMOs, NTOs, and other service providers.
