An Italian yin and yang

15-jan-italianyinyang2As the segment of sophisticated and free independent travellers from Asia grows larger, destinations that were once aspirational have become banal for this lot, putting pressure on outbound travel agents to come up with new ideas to please clients.

Combine Venice and its lagoons with the Dolomites and agents will in effect be offering their clients two UNESCO World Heritage Sites at one go.

Venice and the Dolomites are only a 2.5 hours drive away. While the former is known to every well-clad Asian tourist, the same cannot be said of the Dolomites. Currently, it is fair to say only the discerning Asians would have the Dolomites on their radar, like the couple from Singapore and Hong Kong who recently booked out the entire Queen of the Alps hotel, Rosa Alpina Hotel & Spa (see right) for their wedding. They could have chosen Florence or Rome, but they chose the village of San Cassiano, 1,537m above sea level in the tourist district of Alta Badia. The village has only 750 inhabitants. The Dolomites: A name befittingly close to ‘dynamite’ and ‘dynamic’ – every bit this unique mountain range in the northern Italian Alps it is. Venice has feminine, wily charms, while the Dolomites exudes masculine, single-focus power. A contrast that is so perfect and compelling – think ‘His’ & ‘Hers ’, Ying & Yang, Snow & Ice.

Unlike triangle mounds most mountains are, the Dolomites are exquisite pinnacles, spires, towers, dramatic vertical limestone walls and various sculptural forms in a great diversity of colours. Comprising 18 peaks rising to above 3,000m and covering 141,903ha, the Dolomites is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Italy had done well last year. According to results from the European Cities Marketing-MKG report, the city of Milan experienced the strongest RevPAR in Europe in the first three quarters of 2015, over the same period last year, thanks to Expo Milan which was held from May 1 to October 31. The city of romance, Venice, too, was ahead of 2014, experiencing an average daily rate rise of over 19 per cent, leading to a RevPAR increase of 17.3 per cent.

Overall, 2015 was the Year of Europe, which was world’s most visited region with a five per cent increase in arrivals compared with four per cent for Asia-Pacific, the Americas and the Middle East, while Africa looks set to decline five per cent, going by UNWTO’s preliminary figures.

This article was first published in TTG Asia, January 8, 2016 issue, on page 14. To read more, please view our digital edition or click here to subscribe.

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