ITALY’S festivals are being offered to Hong Kong travel organisers as part of itineraries to let groups experience the country’s food, culture and scenery.
The Italian Consul General to Hong Kong, Carmello Ficarra, addressed an Italy tourism and culture event at The Mira Hong Kong last night. He said scores of festivals held each year an ideal opportunity for visiting groups to experience Italy beyond the famous tourist hotspots such as Rome and Venice.
Ficarra noted that the 2026 Winter Olympics begins February 6, co-hosted by Milan and the Dolomite resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, and is just one of the sporting events Italy offers throughout the year along with traditional festivals.
The Hong Kong-Italy promotion – Festa del Sensi: Carnivale all’Italiana – was co-hosted by the Italian consulate and Miramar Travel. Backing the Venetian-style carnival evening were Qatar Airways, the Greater China offices of Rail Europe, McArthur Glen Designer Outlets, and Climate-Tech – the green-energy arm of local power utility Towngas.
More… Baroque Italy called to the bar
The event also saw the launch of a partnership between Miramar and Rail Europe with train-tourism packages offered to group and independent travellers. The Italy-Hong Kong campaign comes as more destinations and travel organisers tie-in packages with festivals, concerts and sports events.
Alex Lee, general manager of Miramar Travel, said frontline staff and tour guides have undergone training in sustainable travel with Climate-Tech. Lee said the promotions with Rail Europe come as Miramar increases efforts towards a lower carbon footprint in travel along with its commitment to ESG principles.
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– Il Palio di Siena: A dramatic celebration of equestrianism with horse races usually held twice a year – July and August – in Tuscany. The festival dates back to the 17th century with riders dressed in the traditional fineries of that era.– Sagra Wine Festival: Marino, near Rome, hosts this annual celebration of the grape harvest each October, featuring parades, food stalls and even fountains of wine.
– Venice Carnival: The famed masque festival takes place in the week of Shrove Tuesday, the traditional feast day before the start of Lent in the Christian calendar.
– Flower Festival Sicily: The annual event in May not only celebrates creative floristry, but also the region’s Baroque towns with 16th and 17th century architecture providing picturesque backdrops.
– Monterosso Lemon Festival: The region is famous for its citrus wonders and each May the coastal town along the picturesque Cinque Terre route in the northeast displays unique arrangements of the yellow fruit.
Main picture… A baroque-style Happy Valley with traditionally dressed riders at one of the Siena festival’s race events
