In Maruggio (Apulia, Italy), a meeting on the widespread hospitality model involving the province of Taranto. 17 October 2019

Information and welcome to tourists through a new model that sees them as "temporary citizens". Following the experience of Matera European Capital of Culture 2019, a project to promote and enhance the cultural and environmental heritage has been launched in the province of Taranto. 
It is called "Open Tourism" and involves the Unione dei Comuni Terre del Mare e del Sole, namely Avetrana, Fragagnano, Leporano, Pulsano, Maruggio, Lizzano and Torricella. It is part of the European programme 2014-2020 Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro and is also extended to Molise, with the Unione dei Comuni delle Sorgenti del Biferno, the Fondazione Città del Libro di Campi Salentina, Albania (through the Municipality of Fier and the Cedir organisation) and Montenegro with the Municipality of Cetinje. The mission is to develop a new model of cross-border public-private cooperation that looks towards a widespread reception system.
The basic idea is to conceive the tourist as an integral part of the host community, through a greater involvement of economic, social and cultural operators. For everyone, new tools and information points: from thematic itineraries to promotional kits, and then workshops with stakeholders, a contest, a platform and a dedicated App. At the heart of the project is the enhancement of experiential tourism, which is also more dynamic and able to meet the needs of visitors, offering them the chance to fully experience the area. In order to achieve all this," say the companies involved, "it is necessary to create synergies between the territories and network resources and skills, developing strategies that involve the communities. We started last year and now planning is at an important stage. 
Hence the meeting open to the public organised for Thursday 17 October at 5 p.m. in the council chamber of the municipality of Maruggio, during which the governance model and the actions that are being put in place will be illustrated, with particular attention to the municipalities on the eastern side of the province of Taranto. The institutional greetings will be entrusted to the president of the Lead Partner, the mayor of Maruggio Alfredo Longo, and to the manager of "Open Tourism" Antonio Mezzolla. Details will be illustrated by the project's technical staff Sarah Catelani and Alice Toni. There will also be an analysis of the territory with particular reference to the focus groups, by the director of Gal Terre del Primitivo Rita Mazzolani.