Olio Capitale, focus-on conferences for experts and enthusiasts alike about culture and tourism

Also this year, Trieste turns into the capital of extra-virgin olive oil for four days, with a rich programme devised for experts in the fields, as well as for ‘green gold’ enthusiasts about culture and tourism.

“Extra-virgin olive oil, cultural and tourist resource” is the title of the Olio Capitale opening conference, scheduled for Friday 15th March at 10.30am. Moderated by food and wine journalist Paolo Massobrio, the conference will see the participation from the President of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce Antonio Paoletti, the President of Città dell’Olio Enrico Lupi, the Mayor of Trieste Roberto Dipiazza and the President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region Massimiliano Fedriga.

The highlight of the conference will be the speech by Roberta Garibaldi, tourist marketing expert of the World Food Travel Association who will talk about “Oil and the growth of food and wine tourism.”

Wine-and-gastronomy—in its broader sense of cultural experience—has become one of the strongest tourism trends. Today, as reported by the World Tourism Organization, food-and-wine tourism is a segment increasing sharply and one of the most dynamic in the sector. The food-and-wine component has acquired a considerable relevance in travelling choices: according to the World Food Travel Association, 93% of leisure tourists (those travelling for fun, holiday, personal and cultural reasons and not for work or study-related reasons) have participated in relevant thematic experiences over their most recent holidays, while 49% of them said that food, wine and extra-virgin olive oil are among the main reasons behind at least one trip over the past two years. This information highlights the new central role played by food and wine, which have gone from an ancillary element to a component able to influence the tourists’ behaviour.

Also at the conference, “The experience of food-and-wine tourism in Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Strada del Vino e dei Sapori” will be the title of the speech by Diana Candusso, Food-and-Wine Department Manager of PromoTurismo Fvg.