The TTG Travel Experience Fair in Rimini, organized by the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), will not feature Israel this year after objections from local government leaders. Rimini’s mayor, Jamil Sadegholvaad, and Emilia-Romagna Regional President, Michele de Pascale, wrote letters arguing that Israel’s involvement is inappropriate due to its military action in Gaza. Their concerns were rooted in ethical and moral objections related to current conflict and humanitarian issues.
As a result, Israel will be excluded from hosting a national stand at the fair scheduled for October 8-10. This move has ignited a political debate in Italy about whether trade and tourism events should remain neutral economically and culturally or be responsive to global conflicts.
In their letter, Sadegholvaad emphasized that promoting tourism from areas experiencing violence, terror, and death is “ethically and morally unacceptable.” The regional president supported these claims, saying promotional platforms should be kept separate from humanitarian crises. Their intervention proved decisive in the decision by IEG to remove Israel from the exhibitors.
Italy’s national government has reacted critically. Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè voiced surprise at IEG’s choice, arguing that international exhibitions have traditionally focused on cultural exchange and business rather than political positions. She warned that allowing municipalities or regions to veto exhibitor participation could set a troublesome precedent for Italy’s international trade-fair role.
On the other side, opposition parties welcomed the exclusion. PD leader Elly Schlein said the move reflected accountability that national authorities have sometimes avoided. She tied the decision to broader concerns about alleged human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank.
The TTG Travel Fair is one of Italy’s premier tourism industry events, drawing numerous international exhibitors showcasing destinations, tourism services, and technologies. With Israel’s absence, questions are being raised about how geopolitical tensions may now influence which countries are included in global tourism promotion. For IEG, balancing commercial interests with political pressure has become an emerging challenge.
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TTG Rimini Fair Excludes Israel Following Gaza Conflict Debate
