Last act tourist district? The Marsala city council will have to decide on the withdrawal from the District wanted by the council led by mayor Massimo Grillo.
Today on the agenda in the City Council is the act of withdrawal of the Municipality of Marsala from the Tourist District of Western Sicily, a foundation born about 15 years ago, with the participation of several Municipalities, with the aim of promoting tourism of the territory of the province of Trapani from a network perspective.
And in the city not even the tourist associations create a network. Because there are those who want Marsala to remain in the District, there are those who ask the councilors to vote on leaving the scene.
Meanwhile, the Municipality has paid off all the arrears, around 160 thousand euros (here is the resolution).
The Grillo Administration and the Tourist District have never gotten along, with the mayor who has gradually distanced himself from it in recent years, no longer paying dues and participating, for example, in the Milan Bit with other private initiatives. Since last year the final decision has been made leaving the District, the birth of the Tourism Council, another advisory body to the mayor which, however, as he himself said, met only once in a year, in June 2023.
The same members of the Tourism Council intervened on the desire of the municipal administration to definitively leave the Tourist District, in view of the council meeting which must deal with the withdrawal measure, who, together with the AST, the Marsala Tourist Facilities Association, ask for urgent convocation of the Consulta asking the president of the municipal council Enzo Sturiano to postpone the discussion of the point “Withdrawal of Marsala from the Tourist District of Western Sicily”, for further information.
The request specifies that the Municipal Tourism Council is the body established by the administration entitled to express an opinion in the tourism sector, and therefore on the point being discussed in the municipal council. The request for a meeting is signed by Elio Palmeri, Michele Petrelli, Sara Manzo, Gabriele Sammartano, Bice Marino, Massimo Rallo, all members of the Council, which until now had not been taken into consideration by the administration and by Mayor Grillo who wanted it .
But there is no harmony among the tourist associations in the areaIndeed, we are going in totally opposite directions. Because while AST, the association of tourist facilities has joined the District and claims that the Municipality’s exit would be a “blow to Tourism”, another association, the ASE, which represents non-hotel structures, claims the opposite.
ASE Sicilia, representing 90 members (530 beds and 173 units) is in fact in favor of the Municipality of Marsala leaving the Western Sicily Tourist District and invites the City Council to vote in favor of the measure taken by the Grillo Council.
President Fabio Alba explains the reasons.
For over 10 years we have been carrying forward the concept of DMO through the Marsala Tourist Destination Movement. Together with the other local associations we have tried to make the various administrations, which have followed one another over the years, understand that a professional approach is needed to create and promote Marsala as a tourist city.
The official data from the Regional Tourist Observatory have always shown that Marsala’s performance (regarding the average tourist stay) is not satisfactory and places us in the last places in the ranking of the province of Trapani.
The city of Marsala does not have a clear and recognizable brand on the tourist destination market. If it weren’t for the natural beauty, wine and kitesurfing, tourist numbers would be truly reduced. But a real tourist destination is made up of existing attractions, attractions and services and their organization from a tourist point of view…
Being part of the Tourist District has created further confusion about Marsala’s positioning on the tourist destination market. In recent years we have witnessed communication errors committed to the detriment of Marsala by the District itself which in theory was supposed to promote the attractions and attractions of our city. We remember for example that in April 2023 the west of sicily website (created by the Tourist District) indicated on the geographical map that the Stagnone Lagoon was located in Casa Santa. Also in the same month on the page relating to the Lagoon we read verbatim “The Stagnone is a natural reserve located in Marsala, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 for its ecological and historical importance which has made it a single great example of balance between development sustainable and environmental protection.”
Then in March 2023 the website indicated the Saline di Trapani and Paceco with a photo of the Marsala salt pans. As late as January 2023, Trapani was indicated with the Ettore and Infersa salt mills.
And again Ferrero, do you remember the jar of Nutella with the Marsala salt pans referred to as Saline di Paceco?
All this demonstrates that the decision on territorial marketing strategies, the creation of the brand and the tourist offer cannot be left to another body. We are in favor of using all the economic resources available to build the “Marsala” brand, improve the quality of the tourist offer and create a strong and recognizable identity. Subsequently it will be possible to evaluate whether to be part of the District or other networking projects.
This theme will also be discussed at the Tourism Festival which will be held on Saturday 27 April from 09:00 to 13:00 at the Ex Convento del Carmine in Marsala. Operators in the tourism sector will be able to participate for free by registering on www.festivaldelturismo.com
Meanwhile, the Municipality of Marsala has paid off the quotas from past years for the tourism promotion project it joined.
The Grillo council, in fact, had decided not to pay any more. Now he has put his hands back into his wallet: 164 thousand euros to pay off the dues for a few years. Exactly, the Municipality had not paid the dues since 2019.
Meanwhile, the summer season is upon us and District yes, or no, the Municipality risks being caught unprepared in terms of tourism promotion.
Tags: Stand Word councilors
