Over 48,000 visitors, 143 million social-media views, for the Vespucci in Mumbai

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 4 - Over 48,000 visitors, 25 events, more than 143 million views and 21.5 million interactions on social media and the winning of the BEA prize for the best public icon event of the year - this, in short, is the balance sheet of the Mumbai stage of the Amerigo Vespucci's world tour with the 'Villaggio Italia'.
    The numbers show the success of the initiative wanted by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and organized by Difesa Servizi in collaboration with the Ninetynine communications agency.
    Of the over 48,000 people who visited the Villaggio Italia, more than 19,000 climbed aboard the Amerigo Vespucci tall ship. The Villaggio Italia's five days in India's financial capital were enriched by 25 events for a total of 51 hours open to the public and 78 hours of shows.
    Villaggio Italia, the multi-year touring world exposition, confirmed its status as a multidisciplinary platform of dialogue at the disposal of the public institutions, companies and Italian excellence around the world.
    The Mumbai stage, the 28th of the Vespucci world tour and Villaggio Italia's fifth, featured the participation of Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso, Defence Undersecretary Matteo Perego di Cremnago, Indian Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Italy's Ambassador to India Antonio Bartoli, the Commander of the Italian Navy School Admiral Antonio Natale and Difesa Servizi Chief Executive Luca Andreoli for a series of encounters that were productive for Italy and for relations between the two countries.
    "The presence in Mumbai of the Amerigo Vespucci ship and of the Villaggio Italia, which has been visited by thousands of residents and tourists of all ages over the last few days, has been an extraordinary opportunity to consolidate ties between Italy and India" said Urso.
    During his mission to India, Urso highlighted how the Vespucci's first-ever visit to Mumbai had marked the opening of a new phase in political and economic relations between Italy and India.
    Perego di Cremnago stressed that "the best of Made in Italy was celebrated in Mumbai with the Vespucci ship and the Villaggio Italia, an emblem of quality, innovation and creativity that has always characterized our country".
    Luca Andreoli, the CEO of Difesa Servizi, the defence ministry's in-house company that organizes and supports every phase of the initiative, expressed satisfaction too. "Villaggio Italia is a phenomenon that is alive and constantly evolving," he said.
    "It grows every day, becoming a symbol of exchange and encounter between different cultures.
    "It is a meeting point for global dialogue, where curiosity and the desire for knowledge meet.
    "It is the mirror of an Italy that continues to bring into play everything that makes it unique, in order to grow together".
    The Vespucci world tour and the Ninetynine agency was awarded the most important national and international event (Bea World) prize at the BEA (Best Event Awards), which brings together the entire event industry, receiving recognition as "Best Event of public institutions" and also winning the "Grand Prix Iconic Award" as the iconic event of the year in Italy and the second-best event in the world (BEA World - Grand Prix).
    The contents published during the Mumbai stage on the Vespucci Tour's six social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X and YouTube) obtained over 143 million views, while 21.5 million interactions were generated by Internet users around the world.
    The most frequently used term on social media by the Italians who visited the Villaggio Italia in Mumbai was "pride", while for Indians it was "Thank you".
    In addition to the Ministry of Defence, the Villaggio Italia project, a public-private partnership production of Difesa Servizi spa and Ninetynine, also features the involvement of the premier's office and the ministries of Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, Sport and Youth, Foreign Affairs, Economy, Infrastructure and Transport, Made in Italy, Agriculture, Environment, Culture and Tourism. (ANSA).