Development of a sustainable tou – Development of a sustainable tourism

2A007

Regione Abruzzo
Piazza S. Silvestro – Pal. Branconi
67100 L’Aquila
Italy

Dr. Ritta Galdi
Tel.:	+390862364257
Fax:	+390862364218
Email:	rita.galdi@regione.abruzzo.it

3 - Landscape. natural and cultural heritage
3.1 - Cultural heritage

(See here for a priorities and measures overview)

1st Call

The regions involved in the project, which are Italy, Greece, Poland, Hungary and Romania, face the same problems of the depopulation trend and high unemployment rates. However, the villages of the participating regions are also characterised by a rich natural, architectural and cultural heritage which has so far not been exploited to its fullest potential. The underlying reasons include the lack of infrastructure, a lack of well-organised promotion campaigns for the areas and, above all, the lack of young people involved in local traditions and in the production of typical regional products. Another problem is the dilapidation of architectural monuments meaning a loss of typical regional features, which are a basic constituent of the variety of European culture. One way to reverse such trends is to create jobs in the tourism sector of the areas concerned. Tourism represents an enormous source of wealth that has as yet not been exploited adequately. The project targets villages located within or close to regional or national parks. Target areas have been chosen to also represent a suitable sample of other European regions with similar problems so that the project results can be applied to them too. The transnational approach of the project provides the opportunity to profit from experiences gained in the otherwise separated territories participating in the project.

The project has created jobs, particularly for young people, in the field of sustainable tourism and in related sectors like agriculture, restoration, or regional handicrafts. The establishment of new jobs has helped lessen the depopulation trend. Among others, the new professional profile of a “Tourism Manager” was developed and education schemes were introduced. Moreover, in the involved regions awareness of preserving the environment and cultural heritage has been raised by campaigns in schools. Feasibility studies for investments have been conducted and small-scale investments, mostly restoration measures of historic buildings, have been made. Particular attention has been paid to sending information to immigrants belonging to the Italian and Greek communities abroad who spend their holidays in their home countries and who can transfer their traditions to the new generations, which would otherwise be totally lost. An interactive website has been set up and is capable of including other interested institutions and local authorities in the whole CADSES area.

Total budget (EUR):	3.545.000,00 EUR
ERDF:	2.022.500,00 EUR

Start:	01/2003
End:	06/2006

• Regione Abruzzo, L’Aquila, Italy
• Region of Central Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece
• Union of Local Authorities of Kilkis Prefecture, Kilkis, Greece
• University of Szeged Colge of Agriculture, Hódmezovásárhely, Hungary
• Swietokrzyskie Centre of the Fundation in Support of Local Democracy, Kielce, Poland
• Asociatia Femeilor din Romania, Bucharest, Romania