CzechTourism wrapped up a high-profile presence at the TTG Travel Experience in Rimini (14–16 October) and on 20 October published a summary of deals struck with Italian tour operators. The agency used the B2B fair – Italy’s largest tourism marketplace – to pitch the Czech Republic as a multi-regional destination beyond Prague, emphasising spa towns, UNESCO sites and outdoor products. Key to the sales pitch was improved air connectivity: the launch of Smartwings’ Venice and Ryanair’s Turin services this winter boosts seat capacity between the two countries by 18 % year-on-year. CzechTourism data show Italian overnights grew to 782 000 in the first eight months of 2026 and average stay length rose to 3.7 days. For Czech hoteliers and DMCs the Italian market offers counter-seasonal demand that can fill beds during the shoulder months. Participants at the Czech stand – including Jan Hotels, Jerome Incoming and Pilsner Urquell’s new visitor centre – reported signing preliminary allotment agreements for spring 2027 group travel. Travel industry lawyers remind exhibitors that Italy’s new package-tour directive, which mirrors upcoming EU passenger-rights reforms, tightens liability for missed connections and accommodation failures. Czech suppliers entering contracts this autumn should therefore ensure force-majeure clauses reflect the stricter refund rules. The Rimini fair also provided a platform to promote rail-air combinability: Ferrovie dello Stato’s newly launched night train from Milan to Vienna, with through-tickets to Prague on ČD’s morning service, could open multi-city itineraries attractive to sustainability-minded travellers.
