by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Massimiliano Fedriga, Governor of Friuli Venezia Giulia; Sergio Emidio Bini, FVG Councilor for Productive Activities and Tourism
Regional officials in Friuli Venezia Giulia on Friday pointed to strong growth in tourism and conferences as they hosted the 17th national convention of Federcongressi&eventi at the Generali Convention Center.
The gathering, titled “The Art of Meeting. Beyond Every Border,” brought industry leaders to Trieste to discuss trends in Italy’s meetings and events sector. The event was sponsored by PromoTurismoFVG.
Governor Massimiliano Fedriga said the region had emerged as one of Italy’s fastest-growing areas for both tourism and congress activity. He described business tourism as a key tool in reducing seasonality, a persistent issue for destinations reliant on summer travel, and said the regional government had invested in upgrading facilities across the territory.
Among the projects cited was the redevelopment of the Terrazza a Mare in Lignano Sabbiadoro, which is expected to include new recreational and cultural spaces suitable for events. Mr. Fedriga also said the region was exploring new sectors, including the possibility of hosting a major e-sports competition.
According to regional data, 5,109 events were held in Friuli Venezia Giulia in 2024, a 13.5 percent increase from the previous year, drawing more than 370,000 participants and generating nearly 670,000 overnight stays.
The regional tourism councilor, Sergio Emidio Bini, said the congress sector’s growth reflects a broader upward trend. In 2025, the region recorded 11 million tourist presences, up 6.5 percent year over year. Trieste accounted for 2 million of those, an 11.3 percent increase.
