Sardegna Sostenibile is a project with an ambitious goal
Sardegna Sostenibile (that is, Sustainable Sardinia) is a wide-ranging project, which aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the island’s tourism system through technological innovation.
Among the initiatives carried out by Sardegna Ricerche, a body for research and technological development, is also ‘Sardegna, un’isola sostenibile’ (‘Sardinia, a sustainable island’). This is a complex project, which aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the Sardinian tourism system using technological innovation. As a consequence, it will create a recognizable brand linked to Sardinia and an integrated tourist supply. But it will also generate a conscious and participatory governance, able to allow the sharing of objectives between the public and private sectors.
Sardegna Sostenibile: how to improve tourism on the island
Tourism is already the leading sector of the Sardinian economy, but it can still grow. And many would be the benefits: more employment, diversification in the production field, safeguard of the local cultural background, protection and enhancement of the environment. It is clear that the Sardegna Sostenibile project involves various industries, supporting the development and the employment dynamics fundamental for the whole territory. These are also the main subjects of the “Intelligent Specialization Strategy” planned by the Sardinia Region.
However, tourism has changed over the years, from different points of view: demand, supply and purchasing patterns. In particular, the demand, which is the basis of tourism, changed a lot. In the past it was all about mass tourism, with standardized products. But now it is more dynamic, informed, flexible, interested in experiences and sustainability.
The supply must adapt to these changes. Internet and the new technologies are fundamental in this sense. In the past, tourism were mostly organized by tour operators. But now the individual players in the supply chain operate individually, competing to directly reach the final consumer. This evidence opens up new opportunities, in particular to work with a systemic vision in which all the actors of the supply chain are part of a network. In this way, it is possible to create a structured and multipurpose supply, even in a competitive situation.
This is possible thanks to some product and process innovation in the tourism field, both at local and regional level. The ‘Sardegna, un’Isola sostenibile’ project focuses exactly on this, because only through technological innovation companies can create networks and consequently expand the sustainable tourism supply. Obviously, they need an effective territorial governance system that works to make the tourist destinations more attractive and competitive.
Sardegna sostenibile: the 10 most interesting projects
The capital for carrying out the project amounts to almost 3.5 million euros. 21 sub-projects have already been funded. These projects are widely distributed on the Sardinian territory and involve different industries.
1) Ogliastra Accogliente
Ogliastra Accogliente (Welcoming Ogliastra) is a project that involves a territory with a strong tourist vocation. The goal is to support the development of this destination, experimenting with innovative forms of territorial governance for the growth of tourism. The project integrates the prior strategic development initiatives and territorial planning to sustainably increase the competitiveness of the Ogliastra tourist appeal.
2) Vivere il Sud Ovest
Vivere il Sud Ovest (Live the South West) intends to create a distinctive image able to convey the identity of the south west of Sardinia. This is a territory with plenty of specific cultural, natural and environmental attractions. For example, the dunes, the Carignano del Sulcis, the Phoenician-Punic heritage, the mining heritage, the seaside villages, the rocky landscapes. The goal is to develop 5 thematic cluster: walking tourism, water sports tourism, marine tourism, wine tourism and outdoor tourism.
3) Sardegna – Il cuore (the heart)
The project aims to implement a plan for developing the tourism in the internal Sardinia. The starting point is the specificity of this territory, while the goal is to organize and enhance the tourist supply. The area includes the 3 Barbagie, Ollolai, Belvì and Seulo, the Mandrolisai, the Gennargentu, the Sarcidano, the Guilcier and the Barigadu. They are all geographically and historically connected, but also similar in terms of potential, resources, tourist value and position. They still retain the authentic Sardinian soul today. And their distance from the coasts, from the main cities and the difficulty to reach them are elements to enhance.
4) Rete Lakesos 2020
The Lakesos 2020 project supports the network of companies involved in the hospitality, in the production of typical products and of tourism promotion services in the Logudoro and Meilogu territories. The project starts from the presence on this territory of some important attractions: the Valle dei Nuraghi, the compendium of Lake Coghinas, the circuit of the Romanesque Churches and other sites of spiritual and environmental interest. Added to these are also the Chilivani racecourse and the Mores racetrack.
5) Best – Bike Sardinia
The goal is to establish the first bike hotel network in Sardinia. This will fill a gap in the region’s cycle tourism supply. With the support of specialized and complementary service providers, the tourism supply will be more innovative, aware, sustainable and free from seasonality.
6) Sardinia Ride
A network of companies throughout the region is working to identify a new path that largely retraces the prior project of the cycle paths of Sardinia. It also includes roads with low traffic density, called Riciclovie by Audax Italia. The route will touch the places of Sardinia that are most interesting for landscape or culture. In addition, the 600 km double ring will touch all the provincial capitals. It will be accessible with traditional bikes and e-bikes.
7) Astroturismo Sardegna
Astroturismo Sardegna aims to promote the astrotourism in Sardinia. It wants to enhance the territorial, landscape and historical-cultural peculiarities of Sardinia. A particular attention goes to the environmental and the historical-archaeological aspects that make the island a unique territory. The goal is to promote a more sustainable tourism through activities of high quality value, also with an educational function. The main resource is the night sky, around which the offer of experiences related to astrotourism revolves. The night sky is a resource not only for astronomical themed events, but also an asset to protect through environmental education and awareness of the problem of light pollution.
8) Siendas Academy
It is a Sardinian food and wine tourism development project carried out by a network of 11 local food and wine producers. The goal is to support the experiential tourism. The Siendas Academy format serves as a model for developing a common identity for the food and wine experiences, be they workshops or tastings. Moreover, through an e-commerce the Sardinian producers can access commercial and logistic intermediation services for a better promotion worldwide.
9) Baronia Green Land
The Baronia Green Land project aims to create a network of local companies to overcome individualism. The aim is to increase the competitiveness of the area. In fact, the area can count on several attractions: the Gulf of Orosei and Gennargentu National Park, two SCI areas, a marine protected area and a regional natural park. It can also boast the only dune system on the East Coast, that of Capo Comino. Finally, there are several beaches known all over the world for their beauty, such as Berchida, Orvile, della Cinta in San Teodoro and Cala Brandinchi.
10) Inside Sardinia
Destination Inside Sardinia aims to establish a Territorial Tourist Development Organization. It refers to the territories of the municipalities of the GAL Barbagia and the Nuorese Baronie. The goal is to develop and manage, in a participatory way, the initiatives and the tourist attractions of the territory of internal Sardinia.
To explore all the projects in detail click here (in Italian).
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