The Marche’s first Sibillini Mountains tourist district was created with an MOU signed, at the recent BIT international tourism exchange, by the municipalities of Bolognola, Castelsantangelo Sul Nera, Fiastra, Montefortino, Montegallo, Montemonaco, Sarnano and Ussita.
Boosting outdoor and snow tourism
The region's main objective is to move from tourism strictly linked to the sea to two new products involving the hinterland. The first is the redevelopment of its small towns and the second the creation of the first mountain tourist district, which sees the Sibillini Mountains as a pivotal element and a very strong attraction in terms of outdoor and especially snow tourism. Thanks to the resources allocated in the CIS Sisma and the PNRR Sismi Complementary Fund, which together will bring more than €800 million investments to the Marche, the municipalities are modernizing ski lifts and mountain refuges to the tune of €58 million while important resources are being allocated to the enhancement of pathways and trails.
Repopulating inland areas
The agreement aims at repopulating inland areas and a study revealed how the different age groups of the population associate the concept of "mountain" with the idea of a vital and dynamic place (over 70%), capable of enhancing physical and mental wellbeing (94%), identifying it as an ideal place in which to implement new life projects.
‘There is no commerce without tourism’
The research also showed how a quality, intersectoral, and environmentally friendly tourist product in the Sibillini Mountains can have benefits for all, triggering investments to boost the off-peak seasons and to repopulate the Sibillini Mountain areas. "Tourism is an economy and there is no commerce without tourism,”s aid Lara Magoni, Lombardy Region's councillor and Guido Castelli concluded by saying that the MOU strengthens the community, defines further synergies, identifies future projects and optimises the various types of funds available.
Ph credits: Maurizio Paradisi
