Flavio Tagliabue is the enthusiast Secretary and Co-founder of Associazione Startup Turismo, as well as advisor and partner of several startups. You can tell it by talking to him: he knows what’s what when it comes to the startup ecosystem and its rules!
Associazione Startup Turismo was founded in 2013 as the leading “voice” of tourism startups in Italy, with more than 130 associates working to innovate the travel and digital culture landscape through the startup lens. “We are the link between traditional entrepreneurs, public sector and the innovation world: only like this we can work to make the tourism sector competitive, in step with the times and the needs of the tourist”, says Flavio.
Let’s meet him personally with this inspiring interview!
Why did you choose to establish a vertical association focused on tourism, given the existence of numerous other associations representing the startup ecosystem in Italy?
The tourism sector is a vast and continuously expanding market that offers abundant opportunities for innovative startups. Moreover, the distinct challenges and prospects within the tourism industry need specialized attention and expertise.
Although there are already various associations representing the startup ecosystem in Italy, a novel vertical association focusing on tourism presents a distinctive viewpoint regarding the particular requirements of tourism startups and provides tailored assistance and resources for these enterprises.
Your experience goes back more than 10 years in this sector, what do you think is lacking specifically in the Italian market?
There are still numerous opportunities for innovative and technological startups within the Italian tourism market. In particular, there are several areas where the Italian tourism industry could benefit significantly from the startup ecosystem. These include:
- Technological innovation: The Italian tourism sector could benefit from creative technological solutions that enhance the tourist experience. For instance, mobile applications, online booking platforms, operational management technologies, and data collection tools that track tourist preferences could be developed.
- Sustainability: There is an increasing demand among tourists for sustainable and eco-friendly travel experiences. Startups that offer sustainability solutions in the tourism sector, such as sustainable mobility services and eco-friendly accommodations, can meet this strong consumer demand.
- Marketing and distribution: Innovative startups can help tourism businesses enhance their online presence and attract new customers through digital marketing tools and new distribution strategies.
- Authentic experiences: Tourists are increasingly seeking personalized and authentic travel experiences that go beyond traditional tourist circuits. Startups that offer personalized and authentic travel experiences can meet this growing demand.
What is the most significant challenge that you have encountered when working with traditional and corporate entities to transition towards digitization and new technological tools?
I find it surprising that many traditional companies within this particular sector, such as tour operators, mobility companies, DMCs, and DMOs, do not recognize the importance of collaborating closely with technology developers and startups that are developing new services. By partnering with startups, they can immediately access research and development activities and stay ahead of the curve by anticipating the latest solutions. This would allow them to remain competitive in the market rather than constantly playing catch-up. Italy has always been renowned for its inventors and poets, and it is disappointing to see that we seem to have lost this feature in some respects.
As an association, how are you supporting collaborations between startups and traditional companies?
To foster cooperation on a European scale, we have partnered with the
EU DigiTOUR project, which provides national and international experts and mentors in VR/AR, AI, IoT, and Big Data. The EUdigiTOUR Project aims to assist the EU tourism SMEs in realizing the potential of digital technology by strengthening collaboration in the tourism ecosystem and developing innovative and smart tourism solutions.
During our event schedule at TTG and BIT in Milan, we presented the EU DigiTOUR project, which received an excellent response. The Call for Tourism Startups closed on February 15 ahd it was a blast, we received totally
68 applications, with Italy having the most sign-ups! And the best is yet to come. Now the external experts are evaluating the applications, I can’t disclose more.
So, stay tuned!
Thank you Flavio, and good luck on your commitment!
THE EU DigiTOUR Project 2021-2024
info@eudigitour.eu
Co-funded by the COSME Programme
of the European Union
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