The Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), organizer of the TTG Travel Experience Fair in Rimini, has decided to exclude Israel from this year’s edition following objections by local authorities. The decision comes after letters from Rimini Mayor Jamil Sadegholvaad and Emilia-Romagna Regional Government President Michele de Pascale opposing Israel’s presence due to its military actions in Gaza.

The move prevents Israel from hosting a stand at the TTG Travel Fair, one of Italy’s leading tourism sector events, scheduled to take place in Rimini from 8 to 10 October. The decision has sparked political debate within Italy, drawing reactions from both local and national leaders on whether trade fairs should reflect international conflicts.

Local Objections and Political Reactions

In a letter dated 18 September, Sadegholvaad and De Pascale called Israel’s participation “inappropriate” and urged IEG to reconsider. “We really don’t believe it’s ethically and morally acceptable to propose today’s places of war, terror and death as holiday destinations,” wrote Jamil Sadegholvaad, Mayor of Rimini. The mayor, originally from Iran and elected in 2021 as a candidate of the Democratic Party (PD), argued that tourism promotion should not include regions actively involved in violent conflict.

The Emilia-Romagna regional president supported the call, emphasizing the need to separate promotional activities from locations currently facing humanitarian crises. Their intervention directly influenced IEG’s decision to remove Israel from the exhibitor list, according to Italian media reports.

The exclusion has prompted criticism from Italy’s national government. Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè said she was “surprised” by the fair management’s decision, noting that international exhibitions traditionally focus on economic and cultural exchange rather than political judgments. Santanchè warned that allowing local authorities to dictate exhibitor participation could set a precedent affecting Italy’s role in global trade fairs.

Opposition parties took a different stance. Elly Schlein, leader of the PD, said the intervention by Rimini and Emilia-Romagna officials reflected actions the government itself had failed to take. Schlein linked the move to broader concerns about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, stating that Israel must stop what she described as war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. The comments highlighted how the exclusion of Israel at a travel trade fair has become a flashpoint in Italy’s domestic political debate over the Middle East conflict.

Impact on TTG Travel Experience

The TTG Travel Experience Fair is a major annual event for the tourism sector in Italy, drawing exhibitors from dozens of countries to showcase destinations, services and technologies. The removal of Israel marks a rare case in which geopolitical issues have directly shaped the exhibitor lineup. While no other national stands have been withdrawn, the controversy has drawn attention to how global conflicts can influence tourism promotion.

For IEG, the decision represents an unusual step in balancing commercial interests with local political pressures. Israel’s absence could affect networking opportunities with travel operators seeking to market trips to the Middle East. However, organizers emphasized that the fair will continue as scheduled with strong international participation across other regions.

The exclusion of Israel comes amid heightened scrutiny of its military actions in Gaza, which have drawn international criticism. Calls for boycotts of Israeli institutions and businesses have intensified in parts of Europe, with local governments and organizations weighing symbolic measures of opposition. In Rimini, the issue intersected directly with the city’s role as host of one of Italy’s largest tourism industry gatherings.

IEG has not issued a detailed public statement beyond confirming Israel’s absence from the exhibitor list. The decision illustrates the growing sensitivity around tourism marketing in regions facing armed conflict. As debates over the ethics of destination promotion continue, the TTG Travel Fair has become an example of how local politics can intersect with global industry events.

The fair is expected to attract strong attendance despite the controversy. Exhibitors from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas are confirmed to participate, ensuring a broad program of industry sessions and networking. For now, Israel’s exclusion underscores how the tourism sector can become entangled in wider political disputes, with implications that reach beyond the immediate scope of travel promotion.