Transition of Veneto Tourism Promotion to Provinces: Goals and Challenges
Less than two months remain until the start of the big wave of tourism in Veneto. Starting January 1st, the Regione will transfer responsibilities to the provincial administrations. Tourism promotion companies will disappear, and the new focus will be on Consorzi formed by economic operators based on regional directives.
Promotion will involve a project and financial partnership between private sector and public entities. To analyze the issues and prospects of this delicate transition phase, the provincial Tourism assessor Davide Bendinelli has convened a forum on Tuesday, October 30th at 6 pm at the Palazzo dei Congressi di Garda.
The title of the meeting is: “2002. The Evolution of Tourism. The New Role of Provinces”. Alongside Bendinelli, the meeting will feature regional tourism assessor Floriano Pra and the president of the Verona Chamber of Commerce Fabio Bortolazzi. Marco Zaninelli, extraordinary commissioner of the azienda di promozione turistica della Riviera degli Olivi, will moderate.
The Goals of the Forum and Future Perspectives
“The forum,” says Bendinelli, “was born out of the desire to take stock of the situation ahead of the transfer of responsibilities from Regione to Provinces, but also from the need to directly communicate to economic and tourism operators the innovations awaiting us. There is a strong desire for dialogue with those working in the field, to gather their experiences and ideas to shape the new tourism policies as effectively as possible.”
It is clear that the Garda Riviera and its inland areas are particularly affected by this transfer of responsibilities. But what could be the main directions for a new approach to Benacus tourism?
“The needs,” says assessor Bendinelli, “are twofold: requalification of accommodation facilities and promotion of the territory.” Regarding the first issue, that of requalification, the provincial assessor believes that many steps still need to be taken.
For this, urban planning tools are needed that allow operators to carry out interventions urgently required due to intense competition. “We absolutely do not intend to leave room for speculative interventions,” says Bendinelli, “but at the same time, we need these tools to enable tourism operators to renew their structures in terms of quality standards, creating spaces for reception areas, common rooms, elevators, and so on.”
Regarding promotion, Bendinelli is convinced that the overall offer of the Garda territory is not sufficiently known. “Unfortunately,” says the provincial assessor, “Garda is not adequately promoted in Italy and abroad in terms of its overall offering. We need to create conditions for more effective penetration into both foreign and domestic tourist markets, targeting new user segments, perhaps niche markets interested in art, culture, sports, environment, and wine and food.”
