Thanks to the multimedia platform developed by SEAT Pagine Gialle, the local government of Puglia can use attractive, immersive, virtual tours to promote its beautiful region

Milan, 18 February 2010 – The famous “trulli” of Alberobello and the beaches of Salento, the cathedral of Trani and the historic city centre of Lecce: just some of the natural and cultural attractions that tourists can now visit online, on the tourist website “Viaggiare in Puglia” promoted by the regional government of Puglia.

The 30th edition of the International Tourism Exchange (Borsa Internazionale del Turismo - BIT) was chosen for the presentation of Visual Puglia, an application created for the regional government of Puglia that will operate on the multimedia platform for tourist promotion Visual Italy.

Visual Italy was developed by SEAT Pagine Gialle in collaboration with BIT, with the help of Telecom Design. It has been designed to support Italy’s local authorities with the online promotion of their tourist and cultural attractions, and will offer users an exciting new multimedia navigation experience. 

Using cutting-edge technology, Visual Puglia allows tourists to explore the scenery, tourist resorts and places of artistic interest in Puglia, through virtual tours of towns and cities, long car journeys, or even fascinating walks, bicycle rides or boat trips covering a total distance of 1000 km. The trulli of Alberobello, the Murgia landscape of Locorotondo and Martinafranca, the Abbey of Santo Stefano in Monòpoli and the Basilica of San Nicola in Bari, the Gargano coastline including Peschici, Vieste and Rodi Garganico, the treasures of Trani, Taranto and Molfetta, the Ostuni marina, the historic centre of Lecce and the coast of Salento: these are just some of the places of interest for tourists featured in the first online tours available on Visual Puglia.

The wide range of content and customisable functions available on the platform, including the high-definition aerial photographs supplied by Telespazio, the road maps and geo-referenced weather forecasts are accompanied by three guided tours complete with high-definition commentary and images, giving users spectacular views of Roca Vecchia, Trani and Torre Guaceto.

“ In recent years, Puglia has consolidated its reputation as an excellent holiday destination, and has overtaken its competitors by constantly upgrading its amenities and placing a strong emphasis on diversified, innovative offers,” said Magda Terrevoli, Councillor for Tourism and Hospitality of Puglia Regional Government. “ Before exploring Puglia — a very popular destination that’s bucking the general economic trend —g g g the first thing to do is visit the Region’s official tourist website www.viaggiareinpuglia.it, available in three languages and accessible from mobile phones. We believe in virtual communications, which is why we have made significant investments. Our efforts have been validated, among other things, by the BIT Award that we won in 2009 for our website, considered “the most accessible, user-friendly and up-to-date website in Italy” according to a survey conducted by La Sapienza University (Rome). Welcome to Puglia! Your journey starts here: www.viaggiareinpuglia.it.

“ Thanks to Visual Italy technology, Italy now has the most comprehensive immersive tourist maps in the world” commented Maria Bruna Olivieri, Internet Marketing Manager, SEAT Pagine Gialle. “ The application produced this year for the regional government of Puglia further confirms the merit of this platform as an innovative, effective way to promote the whole region”.

Visual Italy on the move
Finally, new applications have been developed using Visual Italy technology that allows users to exploit the benefits of multimedia platforms from mobile phones as well as their PCs. Local tourist boards will have the option of creating a portable digital guide to their regions, accessible from the latest mobile and touch screen devices such as the iPhone and iPad.
These new applications will give users a virtual tour of places of interest, with high-definition pictures, 3D maps and other interactive information, giving them the full benefit of multitouch technology even on the move.

For further information:
www.visual-italy.it
www.visual-italy.it/IT/puglia/

SEAT PG
The SEAT Pagine Gialle Group is one of the main operators at world level in the sector of multimedia profiled advertising, offering “print-voice-online” directories, as well as complementary communication services such as one-to-one marketing.
SEAT Pagine Gialle has been engaged in information services, and search and communications tools for over 80 years. It is a success story based on a brand that is familiar to everyone, a sales network employing over 2,000 persons, a technology that is constantly evolving and a database that includes 15 million households and 3.8 million businesses (2008 data), and a wide range of products guaranteeing a real integrated system of communications to about 600,000 Italian customers. A total of 59 million volumes distributed to the homes and offices of Italian subscribers (2008 data), about 35 million enquiries through the directory assistance service (2008 data), and over 330 million hits on online directories (2008 data) connect people and businesses, bringing together needs and solutions and promoting economic exchanges.

Press contacts:   

Seat PG:

Communications Department
comunicazione.stampa@seat.it
Tel. +39.011.435.2884
Fax +39.011.435.4953

Burson-Marsteller

Antonella Violante - Alessia Quaglio
antonella.violante@bm.com
alessia.quaglio@bm.com
Tel. +39.02.721431