After the success of the two-day event dedicated to the promotion of the wine, food and experiential itineraries of the Open Tourism project, held on May 30 and 31 in the territories of the Unione dei Comuni Terre del Mare e del Sole, another meeting dedicated to the promotion of the tourism potential of Open Tourism Services is coming up. The Workshop "Le potenzialità turistiche dei Servizi Open Tourism. Tra cooperazione transfrontaliera, nuovi modelli di gestione e turismo responsabile " will be hosted by the Comune di Maruggio (Taranto), on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in the Sala Consiliare, at Via Vittorio Emanuele III, 41. The event, sponsored by the Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro program, will focus on opportunities, tools and strategies for cross-border tourism promotion, as well as new management models and responsible tourism.
The day will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a networking welcome and introductory greetings from the institutions and important personalities in the field. Giuseppe Fischetti, President of the Unione dei Comuni Terre del Mare e del Sole, Adolfo Alfredo Longo, Mayor of the Comune di Maruggio, and Antonio Agrosì, Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro Officer, will open the event. During the first part of the workshop, Antonio Mezzolla, Secretary of the Unione dei Comuni Terre del Mare e del Sole and RUP of Open Tourism in Italy, will present the actions, products and results achieved by the project. In addition, the role of the Union of Municipalities Terre del Mare e del Sole in the tourism development of the area through cross-border cooperation will be discussed. Among the speakers there will be Giuseppe Fischetti, as Mayor of the Municipality of Fragagnano, and local administrators from the seven municipalities of the Unione dei Comuni Terre del Mare e del Sole: Francesco Turco, Mayor of the Comune di Torricella; Pietro D'Alfonso, Mayor of the Comune di Pulsano; Antonio Iazzi, Mayor of the Comune di Avetrana; Adolfo Alfredo Longo, Mayor of the Comune di Maruggio; Vincenzo Damiano, Mayor of the Comune di Leporano; and Lucia Palombella, Mayor of the Comune di Lizzano, together with the referents of the Open Tourism Plus project partners.
Supporting tourism with European funds will be another key theme of the day, and Annachiara Stefanucci, Taranto's Europe Direct manager, will provide information on European funding opportunities to support tourism. Gianfranco Lopane, Councillor for Tourism, Tourism Development and Enterprise of the Puglia Region, will conclude the morning's talks.
In the second part of the workshop, operational tools and perspectives for cross-border tourism will be discussed. Aldo SUMMA, Open Tourism Territorial Facilitator (Italy), will coordinate the proceedings. Representatives of the pro loco will speak: Pina Acquaviva of the Pro loco of Lizzano, Nunzia Digiacomo of the Pro loco of Fragagnano, Massimo Quaranta of the Pro loco of Maruggio, Cosimo Lacaita of the Pro loco of Torricella, and Francesco Cazzolla, Local Operator. Councillor for Tourism of the Comune di Maruggio, Anna Maria Gioia, and Councillor for Tourism of the Comune di Leporano, Iolanda Lotta, will talk about their experience of B2Bs in Albania and Montenegro. Different operators from the Comune di Cetinje (Montenegro) and NGO Cedir (Albania will also participate.
This will be followed by the signing of the Open Tourism Cooperation Agreement between the promoters of the Open Tourism Plus project for the sustainability of the Circuit: Unione dei Comuni Terre del Mare e del Sole, Municipality of Cetinje and NGO Cedir. A significant step toward creating tourism that embraces the principles of environmental, social and economic sustainability and involves local authorities, nongovernmental organizations and local communities, demonstrating a joint commitment to protect and preserve the natural and cultural resources of the Circuit. Open Tourism Plus aims to develop tourism that is beneficial to all stakeholders by promoting a conscious approach that minimizes negative impacts on local resources and maximizes benefits to host communities.
During the day, which will end with a signing ceremony, in addition to representatives of local authorities, entities involved in the project and local communities, the Hon. Giovanni Maiorano and the Hon. Dario Iaia will intervene to bring the support of the national government and a contribution on the issue of tourism as a strategic asset of local development.
It will be a moment of celebration and collective commitment to promote sustainable tourism as a resource for social and economic development, respecting the environment and local cultures.
