Nov. 3 - A mission from Italy to Japan to promote our “Great Beauty.” The initiative involved Italian city on the World Heritage Site list and the Mirabilia network. In the “Land of the Rising Sun,” they will put on display Italy’s beautiful scenery, as well as its tourist and gastronomic delights. The event - which recently came to an end in Tokyo - was promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Matera (leader of the Mirabilia project, which also involves the Chambers of Brindisi, Genoa, La Spezia, Messina, Padua, Perugia, Salerno, Vicenza and Udine). The project was created with the support and collaboration of the National Tourist Agency (ENIT) and the Italian Cultural Institute in Tokyo. After promotional tours in Europe and the United States, the stage in Japan was an opportunity for dialogue with hundreds of tour operators and journalists. The mission was launched at the “Umberto Agnelli” auditorium of the Italian Cultural Institute, with a welcome speech by Norberto Steinmayr, cultural attaché of the Italian institution. Ambassador Domenico Giorgi and the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Matera, Angelo Tortorelli, also spoke. The Mirabilia project was presented with a video. The event was preceded by food and wine tasting at the headquarters of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Tokyo, when a group of specialist operators had the opportunity to taste typical products and high quality oils. Indeed, extra virgin olive oil is a typical product of the Mediterranean diet, common to the territories in the Mirabilia network. (red)

TORTORELLI: A SYSTEM TO GROW

"The goal of the mission in Japan - said the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Matera, Angelo Tortorelli - is to ascribe value to our lands and their cultural and gastronomic qualities. These are important promotional tools for companies in the tourist industry, offering products aimed at a global audience. On the Japanese and Asian market, we more in general intend to promote - adds Tortorelli - the culinary excellence of the Mediterranean diet, combining the land, tourism and gastronomy of 10 provinces. In all this, let's not forget the important catalyzing role Matera can play as European capital of culture for 2019. We need to create a system to increase the appeal of these territories.”