The "FALANTO EDUCATIONAL TOUR - fam trip on cruise tourism in Taranto" took place from 10 to 14 December 2018 in Taranto, funded by the Regional Tourism Agency (ARET) "Puglia Promozione" as part of the “Public Notice for the selection of proposals for educational, press and blog tours to promote tourism in Puglia - 2018" under the ROP Puglia ERDP 2014-2020

The overall objective of the initiative was to promote cruise tourism as a segment capable of helping to improve and consolidate the "Taranto brand" among operators in the sector and, therefore, to include the Ionian port of call in the planning of new cruise itineraries and new excursions, other than those already traditionally popular, in line with the strategies of the Strategic Tourism Plan 2016-2025 "Puglia 365", which aim to build a participatory narrative of Puglia's regional tourism seen as a mosaic, which will be composed of the various faces of each territory, a unique and authentic way of promoting Puglia's cultural and landscape resources.

The Falanto educational tour - a familiarisation trip better known as a "fam trip" - saw the participants - buyers and bloggers selected from the most important national and international cruise industry figures - experience first-hand the cultural, archaeological, natural and gastronomic attractions of our territory. Taking its name from the mythical founder of Taranto, the Spartan hero Falanto, as well as from the upcoming Falanto Port Service Center, the Falanto Educational Tour was geared towards exploring the aspects of the Taranto area that make up its tangible and intangible heritage, through tours and workshops. Each day was inspired by a strong element of identity: the ROOTS - the SEA - the EARTH..

The fam trip solution turned out to be a strategic and innovative tool for promoting the city of Taranto as an emerging cruise destination in the Med area, since it was able to direct influencers and decision makers - professionals already accustomed to carefully evaluating tourist destinations as well as the marketing dynamics typical of the cruising sector - towards a choice made at the end of a guided journey to discover and experience new models of emotional tourism able to offer participants a new experience of interactive exploration.

The professionals and local players involved in the Falanto Educational Tour are committed to conveying a positive image of the tourism offer of the province of Taranto, thus contributing to the success of the initiative.