Sustainable Tourism: ECOTOURS' First Study Visit to Agrigento
Tourism is a journey, not just a geographical one. It is a path that intertwines with culture, the environment, and human relationships. This is the heart of the first study visit of the ECOTOURS project, which took place in Agrigento from November 22 to 24, 2023. Organized by the Community Foundation of Agrigento and Trapani in collaboration with PRISM social enterprise, this event marked a moment of deepening on the future of sustainable tourism.
A delegation of 19 representatives from small and medium-sized tourism enterprises, from six partner countries (Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus, and Hungary), gathered in Agrigento for a transnational dialogue focused on circular, sustainable, and relational tourism. This meeting represents an important step towards a tourism that values not only cultural heritage but also human relationships, the environment, and communities.
The training activities that animated these three days included an exclusive tour at the Diffused Museum of the 5 Senses in Sciacca, a real sensory journey guided by founders Viviana Rizzuto, Anna Salvagio, and Désirée Li Bassi. Additionally, Giuseppe Burgio and the team from Palma Nana Cooperative shared their experience at the Environmental Education Center of the Borgo of Serra Guarnieri (Madonie Park), an example of how tourism can be a driver of environmental and community education.
Another important moment was the exchange with Florinda Saieva, founder of Farm Cultural Park, who shared her vision on urban regeneration, with a focus on the city of Favara. This approach highlighted how sustainable tourism can be a catalyst for social and cultural change in communities. The ECOTOURS project was selected and co-financed by the COSME Program under the SMP-COSME-2021-TOURSME Call, aiming to support the resilience of the European economy in the post-pandemic era through interinstitutional cooperation, innovation, and green and digital transition.
For more information, visit the ECOTOURS project web page.