TravelEtna – Tourism Fair

A tourism fair at the foot of the volcano

In Ragalna, a village within the Etna Park in the province of Catania, one of the most ambitious initiatives in the Etna region has come to life: TravelEtna, the tourism fair that gathers industry professionals every spring in the setting of the Teatro Comunale Palmento Arena. Born from the restoration of the ancient municipal wine press, now home to the Enoteca dell'Etna, the venue hosts a B2B event designed to make Ragalna a reference point for volcano tourism.

The slogan and the region's vocation

With the slogan "Where the giants of tourism meet, the magic of Etna is born," TravelEtna connects local administrations, tourism operators, travel agencies, tour operators, media, and organizations dedicated to promoting Etna destinations. The stated goal is to transform the southwestern slope of Mount Etna—often less frequented than the Catania and Messina sides—into a tourism hub capable of coordinating neighboring municipalities and the entire Etna Park.

Stands, workshops, and experiences

The fair's program features exhibition stands, workshops, and experiential activities hosted by leading national and international tourism players. Alongside business meetings, there are educational moments: for example, ARPA Sicilia has featured a space dedicated to marine and terrestrial biodiversity, using immersive headsets from the CORALLO project to explore the region's natural ecosystems.

• Meetings between tour operators and travel agencies from all over Italy
• Thematic workshops on promoting the Etna region
• Educational spaces on biodiversity and environmental sustainability
• Promotion of food and wine excellence, from Etna wine to local products

A growing network

TravelEtna is not an isolated event but the starting point of a journey involving neighboring municipalities and the entire Etna Park. Towns like Biancavilla take the opportunity to present their own initiatives, such as the Etna Wine Forum, intertwining wine, volcanic landscapes, local culture, and experiential tourism. For Ragalna and the southwestern slope of the volcano, the fair represents a strategic showcase to attract tourist flows and enhance a natural and cultural heritage still waiting to be discovered.