Michele de Pascale: "From Venice to Florence, inaccessible cities of art. We are the future"

Michele de Pascale, President of the Region, what does tourism in Emilia-Romagna tell us in this particular historical moment?

"Ours is a region characterized by many elements of tourist attraction that are very different from each other, which in some cases integrate and cooperate and in others travel independently on different tracks - the governor replies -. In this sense, the different products present very different dynamics from each other".

What kind?

"Art cities are experiencing a national growth trend and the Emilia Romagna trend is also very strong. Bologna, obviously, is the most evident element, in the sense that the tourist flow born in the last 10 or 15 years almost did not exist before".

Are other cities experiencing different transformations?

"Ravenna, Ferrara, the cities along the Via Emilia also have growing numbers and are those that, indisputably, present the greatest potential and margins for growth."

Why?

"Because the great capitals of Italian artistic and cultural tourism are all clearly in overtourism. In these cases, yes, the appropriate term. And if Italy wants to grow it can only focus on this network of cities".

Have any processes already been implemented?

"At the moment there are no national strategies in sight, but if there were any, they could only focus on cities that have first-rate assets and second-rate numbers."

How?

"In a country like Italy, it can boast Florence, Venice, Rome. But, when these cities become inaccessible, then cities with significant margins become even more of an asset. We have other products with room for growth, then, but for which we need to reinvent a strategy".

Tell me better.

"I'm thinking about 'green tourism'..."

Is it undervalued?

"Both in the Apennines and in the plain areas, up to the Po Delta: the product is there, but we are working on specific objectives in this mandate to strengthen the territorial tourist identity which today lives mainly on hiking".

Then?

"There is another element, which touches Rimini more closely."

Which?

"The seaside offering of our coast".

What does the current picture tell us?

"It is clear that we are faced with numbers that are incomparable to the rest of the regional products, but the need for innovation and change is very strong."

What should it translate into?

"We live in a moment in which the Riviera Romagnola must know how to rethink itself."

As?

"We are talking about a more mature product that needs to refresh itself. Rimini, more than others, has been able to implement innovation in recent years."

Any examples?

"One is that of using it 365 days a year, therefore with large investments in the trade fair and conference sector: they are very important. Then there are the large demonstrations and sporting events that have characterised Emilia-Romagna in recent years".

The next step?

"We are ready and mature to become an even more structured hub when it comes to sporting events."

Chapter infrastructure and transport, what does it say?

"The airport strategy in Rimini is producing very important results. There is a need to strengthen the network, it is fundamental".

The idea of ​​a shared regional network continues to be a topic of discussion.

"This applies to Rimini airport as much as to the cruise terminal in Ravenna, a hub of attraction. But it also applies to the strong and structured connections with Milan, with Lombardy, with Germany, both for the rail network and for planes and cruises".

Which blackheads need to be treated differently?

"We need to make it easier and more convenient to reach the Riviera Romagnola. And there is another aspect that I am very keen to underline."

The one of the accommodation facilities?

"The hotel regeneration. I remind you that in September we will open a construction site on this front".

With the aim of reaching what programming?

"Someone repeats an old Romagnolo adage that says 'Tourism is sleeping one night'. That is: to really have tourism you have to stay in the area at least one night, otherwise the economic benefits are much lower".

What strategies are there to push in this direction, then?

"In this sense we need to open a new hotel season with stronger tools and resources to be able to innovate and renovate classrooms, structures, spaces. From September we will make a concrete effort to give a boost in this sense".