Everything is ready for the 43rd edition of the Sett di Montpellier, the exhibition dedicated to the camping and outdoor tourism sector, scheduled from November 8th to 10th. In view of this unmissable event, we interviewed Sett director and sales manager Riccardo Di Meo to anticipate the innovations for the visitors.
What are the most interesting news awaiting us at the Sett exhibition?
«I believe that the real innovations will come from the exhibitors themselves: this is why initiatives such as the Eco-Sett, which enhances the eco-responsible actions of the exhibitors of the Sett have been created. At the time of registration, the exhibitor signs an agreement through which it undertakes to propose a product or service falling within the category of eco-sustainability: in this way, during the show the presence of the exhibitors who sign this agreement will be enhanced through the Eco-Sett logo identifiable on our supports: catalog, website internet and application. This will make them easily available to visitors through a dedicated path. We also have the Sett d’Oro, which is an award assigned by an industry magazine to the five most innovative products presented during the show. If we then broaden the discussion to us organizers, this year a space called “Piazza del Villaggio” will be created in hall B2, which in addition to hosting “Sett la Fête” (in English “Sett the Party”), the usual evening that we organize between campsites and companies, will be a real multifunctional point made available to visitors with catering, spaces to rest, do business and more».
The camping sector is doing very well both in Italy and in the rest of Europe. What are the most positive data in your opinion and how are they reflected in the market?
«The most positive data are undoubtedly the numbers: presences and reservations have increased and a very important data within these concerns the presence of national tourism, which has increased exponentially in the aftermath of the pandemic. Generally, holidays within national borders are favored to reduce costs and for greater safety. This leads to an increase in turnover, thanks also to a type of vacationers who previously opted for other types of trips, and consequently to an increase in investments by the structures to fully satisfy the requests and needs of “new” customers».
Sett exhibition has been taking place for over 40 years and continues to combine tradition and innovation. How do you see the future of camping? What are the trends that in your opinion will take hold in this moment of growth?
«Sett is a very specific professional show with qualified visitors, and the sector is healthy with a dynamic market. This mix of factors, combined with the fact that the exhibition has existed for more than forty years, makes it a “high credibility” event, in the sense that if a company wants to measure the temperature of its product within this specific market, it has the ability to do so. Eco-sustainability is and will undoubtedly be a fundamental factor for this sector, and the fact of being able to take a “green” holiday while being able to take advantage of all the comforts of a hotel makes camping something unique and above all futuristic. The numbers of outdoor tourism have been growing for years now and if the pandemic has paralyzed all the tourist sectors a bit, today we could say that the campsite is even strengthened, precisely because of the type of holiday it offers».
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