Regional Tourism Law Updates and Sector Promotion Initiatives
The Updates of the Regional Text on Tourism
In focusing on the main novelties of the consolidated regional laws regarding tourism, a document already approved by the Regional Council but awaiting final approval, Minister Pra emphasized the strengthening of Consortia: “As an operational synthesis of public and private forces” to promote and especially market the product across various sectors.
The regional budget foresees the same funding for the upcoming year as in 2000: 22 billion lire for transferred functions and the management of Uffici Iat, and one billion for Pro loco, with ten and a half billion allocated to promotion.
The regional assessor, when addressing the issue of credit support for businesses, announced an agreement reached with a major financial institution that will provide 400 billion credits with long-term repayment (15 years: the first two with interest, and the remaining for the repayment of the principal alone), guaranteed at 70 percent by the Region.
The Conference and Initiatives on the Tourism Sector
The forum held at the conference palace was promoted by provincial assessor Davide Bendinelli, followed by a substantial group of sector operators (around 180), and was attended by several public administrators, including the vice president of the Region Angelo Fiorin, Senator Massimo Ferro, the President of the Province Aleardo Merlin, and the President of the Chamber of Commerce Fabio Bortolazzi.
All committed to delivering their greetings, emphasizing the importance of a “network” and working in “synergy” with sector operators to give more weight and coherence to promotion efforts.
The conference was moderated by Marco Zaninelli, commissioner of Apt Riviera degli Olivi, who outlined the evolutionary transition of the public tourism organization on Garda.
Davide Bendinelli, in his dual role as assessor and Mayor of Garda, highlighted how the Province of Verona, with eleven million tourist presences, plays an important role in creating an operational cooperation network.
The commitment to establishing a branch office on-site was also stressed.
In response to questions from the audience, particularly regarding the difficulties arising after the September 11 attacks in the United States and the measures the Region intends to adopt, Minister Pra and President Bortolazzi indicated that the tourism sector has overall been less affected and remains among the most stable compared to others.
Regarding the concerns raised by Giuseppe Lorenzini, President of the Garda Hoteliers Association, about private sector participation, the regional representative considered it appropriate that Lake Garda has its own Promotion Consortium, reflecting the regional tourism reality at the provincial level.