The “Map of Taste”, an initiative created by Confcommercio (on the proposal of Fipe Confcommercio), in collaboration with the Municipality of Caserta, was presented in the Council Room of the Municipality of Caserta.
This is an experimental project which, at least in this first phase, will involve the activities of the food and wine and hospitality sectors of the city of Caserta alone and registered with Confcommercio. In fact, the map includes restaurants, pizzerias, hotels and B&Bs in the capital. The guide, printed in 20 thousand copies, will be distributed free of charge at the Royal Palace, the infopoint in Piazza Gramsci, the Belvedere of San Leucio, the Municipality of Caserta and in all hotels, B&Bs and restaurants in the city, members of Confcommercio.
It can also be downloaded from the Caserta Regale website. Present at the press conference were the Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Productive Development Planning, Emiliano Casale, the Provincial President of Confcommercio Caserta, Lucio Sindaco, and the Provincial President of Fipe (Italian Federation of Public Businesses) Confcommercio Caserta, Giuseppe Russo.
“This is – explained the Mayor of Caserta, Carlo Marino – a further useful element for the promotion of the territory, with particular reference to the activities in the field of catering and hospitality that operate in our city. This initiative reaffirms the virtuous collaboration that is in place for some time between the Municipality and the trade associations, which now meet regularly to develop cultural and economic development and growth strategies. Caserta is a city with a strong tourist vocation, it is growing a lot and we must continue this road”.
“With Confcommercio, as well as with all the entities that make up the economic, productive and cultural fabric of the city – added the Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Productive Development Planning, Emiliano Casale – an important synergy has been created. For a long time now , the Tourism Table is established in the Municipality, in which all the most important stakeholders in the area always participate and where we are carrying out projects of great impact. The Taste Map is added to the app that we have just created and which will allow tourists and visitors a complete use of our city. For the first time, Caserta, thanks to all its components, both institutions and private individuals, is working with a unified strategy, with the sole interest of growing and creating development”. Casale then announced the next measures: “The pedestrian area will soon start from Flora to the aeronautical area in order to eliminate cars parked near the Royal Palace and a tourist restricted traffic zone, avoiding the transit of heavy vehicles in the center and transporting tourist buses on city routes that will be shared with the Tourism Board, while the Corso Giannone gate at the Royal Palace of Caserta will open in October 2024. Furthermore, concludes the deputy mayor, “the tourist tax will be included in the next final balance sheet which will start after 3 or 4 months. The revenues will be managed in sharing with the operators”.
“There is a favorable situation in Caserta – declared the provincial President of Confcommercio Caserta, Lucio Mayor – which, in our opinion, should be fully exploited. The map, in which the most significant realities of the city in terms of hospitality and public establishments, represents the common thread of a series of activities that we are implementing to improve hospitality and increase tourist flows. Among the next initiatives is to launch an awareness campaign to ensure that all commercial activities of the center remain open on Sundays with free entry to the museums. We know that openings on holidays have costs but we need to invest and take advantage of this opportunity. We are also working on establishing shuttles that can facilitate travel around the city for tourists and visitors. This is because Confcommercio does not want to limit itself to offering services to its members, but intends to contribute to the growth of the territory”. According to the Mayor, it is necessary “to bring a different form of tourism to Caserta. Hit and run tourism causes costs and has little impact on the area. This is why we are trying to propose the ‘Caserta Package’ to tour operators to ensure that tourists stay in the city at least one or more nights”.
“This map – continued the provincial President of Fipe Confcommercio Caserta, Giuseppe Russo – is the fruit of a synergy, it is a tool that brings together all the attractors of the territory to guarantee the economic and cultural growth of the city. In recent years the presence in public establishments they have increased by 25%. This is a significant figure that can act as a driving force for the entire industry, attract new investors and give prestige to Caserta. Even the tour operators themselves have understood the problem potential of the capital and this gives us hope for the near future.”
The map, in which 16 activities are included, as well as hotels and B&Bs – “selected on the basis of the different commercial offer” – will be distributed not only in the participating activities but also in the Royal Palace, in the Municipality, at the Belvedere of San Leucio and at the information point installed in Piazza Gramsci. The objective, it has been clarified, is to extend it to other areas of the province.
