ENIT promotes Italian roots tourism at workshop & event in Toronto

The Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT) hosted on Friday (June 14) a B2B workshop in Toronto focused on roots tourism.

Organized in collaboration with Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and several regional tourism boards, the event brought together approximately 50 Canadian tour operators and travel agents with 13 Italian suppliers and regional experts.

The aim was to enhance awareness of the numerous resources available to travellers and industry professionals interested in helping Italian-Canadians reconnect with their heritage.

The workshop featured a series of productive B2B meetings, followed by presentations from several Italian regional representatives.

Notable speakers included Giovanni Maria De Vita, the coordinator of the Roots Tourism Project within Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Antonio Nicoletti, director of A.P.T. Basilicata; Paolo Giuntarelli, director of the tourism department of the Lazio region; and Salvatore Micone, head of the department of culture, sport and tourism of the Molise region).

As 2024 is dedicated to Italian Roots Tourism, this initiative seeks to enable Italians abroad and their descendants to rediscover the beauty, culture and historical traditions of the small villages their ancestors once called home.

A variety of events have been organized in the Greater Toronto Area, coinciding with the CHIN International Picnic and other celebrations planned for Italian Heritage Month.

On June 15 (Saturday), many ITALEA stands on College Street, the historic gathering area of the large Italian community in Toronto, received visits from several MPPs and MPs of Italian origin.

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s deputy prime minister and minister of finance, also paid a visit to the ribbon cutting ceremony and to various food tastings offered by Italy regional stands.

“The Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT) maintains a strong presence in countries with significant Italian communities, and we are confident in the success of various initiatives and events across Italy, particularly in the small villages and inner areas where many emigrants originated,” said Ivana Jelinic, ENIT’s CEO. “Roots tourism seeks to offer travel experiences that blend family history research with an appreciation of the original culture of Italian ancestors. With nearly 80 million Italian descendants worldwide, this is a valuable resource that we continuously integrate into our diverse activities.”

The initiative holds special significance in Canada, a country that has historically welcomed a large number of Italian immigrants.

According to the latest census data, approximately 1.8 million people in Canada identify as having Italian heritage.

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