There is no experience that cannot be had in the Marche, tourists have infinite possibilities by breathing the sea, discovering the mountains, visiting museums and admiring villages and landscapes. It is obvious and now banal to say that it is a region in the plural, today more than ever this is true, for a territory that wants to grow from a tourism point of view, establishing itself on a national and even international level. A real identity, in so much plurality, is still missing, we are not Tuscany and much less Puglia, but great steps forward have certainly been made in recent years. The vice-president of the Anci of the Marche, Paolo Calcinaro, mayor of Fermo, is convinced of this: the Municipalities in the Marche have understood that tourism is gold and the future.
But are the administrators of large and small municipalities really ready for the challenges of tourism to come?
“I must say that everyone is doing a bit for themselves. It is true that on a general level it is the Region that dictates the line, but then we move forward with what everyone has – admits Calcinaro –. It is difficult to put together experiences and perspectives, in in this sense I believe that our region pays precisely for the fragmentation of our Municipalities, which united and compact could become an enormous tourist power”. What stops us from joining forces?
“With the loss of strength of the Provinces, the Municipalities have also lost the aggregation processes. Those who get together do so spontaneously or find themselves if tenders are issued at a national level that reward aggregations. Everyone is led to respond to the needs of their communities, wider planning is not objectively easy. Sometimes there is a bit of competition, communities always look at their neighbor’s grass and this leads you to have to do something almost to compete. it is, and it is a shame, because the size of the Marche region is truly limited and those who choose to do tourism here don’t stay in just one place, but love to travel around”. So what do you dream of for future tourism?
“We have gastronomy, the sea, the mountains, the countryside, some attractive sports. How wonderful it would be to feel like a single coast, as has always happened in Emilia-Romagna, how wonderful if Ascoli advertised Fermo and vice versa, Macerata moved to Ancona and vice versa. We need a higher body, I believe. I understand the Municipalities that are unable to do so due to a thousand problems, Atim can be a solution, but we need to enter into these dynamics”. However, the awareness is there, there have been steps forward.
“Finally everyone is focusing on tourism, the large municipalities understand that it is a real economy, an alternative to the productive sectors which were the only point of reference for development for decades in our region. We have sacrificed the landscape for the production warehouses, unlike the Tuscany, which had thought about it many years before, is a reason for survival, we must make life easier for those who want to invest in this sector”. There are entrepreneurs who believe in it, there are those who renovate farmhouses and those who choose forms of outdoor tourism, such as glamping. How are things going?
“Glamping activities are taking place, we have authorized one under our jewel, Torre di Palme. This means development and jobs. Of course, everything is quite complicated, there are many rules and just as much bureaucracy. I believe that a construction light like that of a campsite should be exempt from urban planning rules, we need to facilitate those who want to invest in accommodation”. Do you like Gianmarco Tamberi as a testimonial for tourism in the Marche?
“Absolutely yes, it is a completely positive and well-known symbol and has toured and highlighted many municipalities – says Calcinaro –. But one could also think of some testimonials from the target countries abroad, for example Holland and Belgium , for campaigns also imported outside Italy. We must be more convinced, love each other more, be aware of what we have and what we are.
