Mr Formato is a Management and Economics Engineer who holds a MSc in Tourism Planning and Development at the University of Surrey (UK), Executive Master in Public Management. He has 25 years of experience in cultural tourism economics, planning and development consultancy in South-East Europe, Middle East and Gulf Countries (Afghanistan, Armenia, Iraq, Oman, Palestine, UAE), Africa (Ethiopia, Tanzania), Latin America (El Salvador, Bolivia). He is the Director of the Italian Ministry of Culture Foundation "Real Sito di Carditello" with 8-year experience as tourism director for Italian regional governments. Assessor of Investments and Cooperation Projects for the European Commission and related agencies, as well as Research Associate for the Italian National Council of Research and lecturer in Tourism and Culture Management and Economics at various Universities.