6th RuralGrowth Interregional Exchange meeting in the Po Delta
With the meeting on "Policies, projects and experiences of local development", the 6th RuralGrowth Interregional Exchange meeting ended this morning at Bagnacavallo, in the presence of a large delegation of the RURALGROWTH project: which, led by the Italian partner DELTA 2000, has been visiting for three days the Po Delta area.
The RURALGROWTH project is part of the Specific Objective 2.1 of the INTERREG Europe program and has the general objective of improving policies to ensure the sustainable, innovative and integrated development of rural economies by increasing the competitiveness of SMEs operating in the rural tourism sector. To pursue the objective, actions were identified to stimulate and promote local and regional programs to support SMEs working in the tourism sector, particularly rural, to improve skills, adopt innovative and environmentally friendly solutions based on the concepts of slow and sustainable tourism, start up new businesses and develop new products and services oriented to a quality offer through the creation and implementation of partnerships.
The delegation, formed by 28 representatives of the project partner countries: Municipality of Nagykanizsa, HUNGARY, Drenthe Province, NETHERLANDS, Savonlinna Business Services Ltd, FINLAND, Municipality of Medina del Campo, SPAIN, Harghita County Council, ROMANIA, DELTA 2000, ITALY is visiting what have been considered good practices for rural development, employment and business activities, which enhance the excellence of the Po Delta, an area suited to slow tourism and ecotourism, where nature is protected thanks to a sustainable mobility and good tourism management practices.
Project partners are discovering various places: the Ecomuseo delle Erbe Palusti of Bagnacavallo with its vocation for the recovery of ancient traditions and crafts, the Cervia Saline Visitor Center accompanied by Atlantis (a company that manages 17 other structures both in this and other regions), the Valli di Comacchio, with its historical center and the Manifattura dei Marinati, managed by Cogetur that deals with environmental tourism and integrated intermodal services in the northern area of the Po Delta.
"It is a great satisfaction for DELTA 2000 to be a partner of this European project - underlines Lorenzo Marchesini, President of DELTA 2000 - in particular because the LAG has been working for years in the rural tourism of the Po Delta trying to develop and stimulate slow tourism, with great attention to the territory and the environment. The territory of the Delta is a treasure trove of experiences that, even with projects like this, we have the pleasure of sharing and making the rest of the world discover! "
"A project of this kind is of particular importance for the policies of the localities involved – says Mauro Conficoni, LAG Councillor, - and we are fortunate to have built a very good relationship with the local communities". The excellent relationship has been also confirmed by the Deputy Mayor of Bagnacavallo, Matteo Giacomoni, at the opening of the meeting with journalists.
