Regione Puglia, MEDUSA project’s partner in Italy, successfully hosted the MEDUSA Familiarization trip (FAM trip) from March 1st to 3rd, 2023 which aimed to promote the region's diverse adventure tourism offerings.

Tour operators from Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom experienced some of the region's unique adventure tourism products firsthand, such as biking in the Regional Natural Park of Coastal Dunes and trekking in the Terra delle Gravine Regional Natural Park in the company of donkeys of Martina Franca. Additionally, they enjoyed a tasting experience of local products at Masseria Narducci during their ride, and an electric bike tour in the State Natural Reserve and Marine Protected Area of Torre Guaceto. These tourist packages were created or upgraded through to "The Mediterranean sub-grant Adventure Tourism Competition", launched by the MEDUSA project last November 2021 in Spain, Lebanon, Italy, Jordan and Tunisia. The competition's goal was to create innovative, high-quality tourism products and experiences while upgrading existing ones to increase interest in the Mediterranean as a sustainable adventure tourism destination.

One day of the trip was dedicated to the BUYPUGLIA 2023 and BTM 2023 tourism fairs, held in the same days in Bari at the Fiera del Levante. Promoted by PugliaPromozione (the Regional Tourism Agency), the two events saw the involvement of more than 120 buyers and 25.000 visitors from all over the world, allowing tour operators to come together and create new synergies and collaborations with the aim of enhancing Puglia tourism.

Overall, the MEDUSA FAM trip initiative provided tour operators with the chance to explore new adventure tourism experiences in Puglia. This has enabled them to promote these experiences to their customers and attract new tourists eager to experience new and sustainable adventures in the heel of Italy’s boot.