WHEN IN PARMA...
Virtual tour in capital of Gastronomy
by Karen Guthry
 Parma land of Giuseppe Verdi and elegant city of musical tradition, is also a culinary Mecca. At the heart of Italy’s Food Valley, Parma is a gastronomy-lover’s paradise: think Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese — without which no pasta dish around the world would be complete — and don’t forget the delicious truffle, a rare delicacy. Between 22 and 25 November this year, Parma will host the Cibus Tour, a wine and food show that puts traditional dishes and regional produce on the menu. In its second edition, Cibus Tour is quickly establishing itself as Europe’s main gastronomical fair. Amongst the media events and conferences held during Cibus Tour, there will be the official presentation of a virtual tour of the city of Parma.
Accessible through the Ascom (Italian Association for Commerce) website www.inparma.it, the virtual tour aims to promote the city of Parma by offering visitors two distinct experiences, cultural and/or commercial. On one level surfers can explore the city’s main attractions and historical sites, on the other, they can access information on local businesses, stroll down the shopping district and even browse through the shops. They can also book a hotel room and make dinner reservations.
Designed to promote the city of Parma as both a tourist destination and a commercial center, the virtual tour consists of 70 VRs that were created by VRWAY exclusively for Ascom. “The project was made possible because Ascom recognizes the Internet as a strategic communication tool” said VRWAY’s Sales Director, Luigi Lauro. “Hopefully, other portals will soon do the same. On top of the usual written information and images, a virtual tour offers an important added value in terms of the user’s quality of experience. “This is a clear advantage which puts all our clients above their competitors,” Mr Lauro said.
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