After last year’s troubled announcement, the Municipality of San Salvo he turns the page and says definitively Goodbye at the market on the seafront. New walk, but also the desire to change are the basis of the choice.
Cross and delight
The marina’s summer market, in addition to crowding out summer evenings, for about twenty years, was a catchphrase among those who considered it a valid attractor and those who contested its opportunity. If on the one hand the dozens of stands (85 up until a few years ago) ensured a good flow of curious people, on the other they did not combine with an offering worth seaside resort: hardware store, sofas, household cleaning products, school items on display a few steps from the beach.
In recent seasons the Municipality has first limited the typologies of admitted articles to then arrive at drastic cut last year: the number of positions allowed was significantly reduced in addition to the introduction of constraints regarding the characteristics of the stands. No more gazebos to be anchored to the ground, but wooden houses to be positioned in the green spaces of the new seafront.
This announcement made the management of the market less attractive (no one responded to the two public notices, LAWS) which also ensured the Municipality the organization of a substantial part of the summer program by the concessionaire.
The 2025 season now upon us will present tourists with an almost completely renovated seafront (the promenade and Piazzale Cristoforo Colombo will be finished shortly, while the redevelopment of the green areas will begin in September) and the administration has decided to turn to private sponsorships as a contribution to the calendar expenses [LEGGI].
«Courage to make new choices»
We spoke about this change of pace with the councilor in charge of Tourism and Events, Elisa Marinelli.
The municipality of San Salvo has decided to ask for sponsorships to help finance the next summer season. Why this decision and what was the response?
The choice to publish a call for sponsorships for summer events arises from the desire to create a synergy in favor of the city with entrepreneurs who we know and who spend themselves on a daily basis for our territory. We will make available the information channels we have such as administration, social media, brochures, giving prominence not to external operators but to local companies. As is evident, we will obtain a double result of visibility.
The response we received was more than positive, evidently our entrepreneurs have well understood the desire of this administration to be able to count on a network, the result of a collaboration to ensure that our territory is increasingly welcoming.
Speaking of sponsorships, in previous years a good part of the program was financed by the market announcement. Without this, don’t you fear an increase in costs for municipal coffers to have a season in line with previous ones?
Yes, in previous years a large part of the events calendar was covered by the proceeds of the summer market. This year we have found a new method, that of sponsorships, which brings us together with a local network.
Furthermore, last year, having held national events, we received funding allocated by the Region which refund up to a maximum of 50% of expenses incurred for significant tourist accommodation events of national importance. This will certainly allow us not to burden the municipal coffers.
What do you say to those who say that the seafront will no longer be frequented by many people due to the absence of stands?
Personally I believe that our city has enormous potential, the seafront redevelopment project projects us into a new tourist offer which, together with the beachgoers, we will be able to welcome and deal with, I am very confident. Furthermore, there will be no shortage of markets, thanks to the Pro Loco and his Art of Knowing How (small craft markets in via Vespucci, ed).
After dozens of seasons, a new chapter opens without the market. Is the reason for this choice only the new seafront?
The choice not to propose a new tender for the summer market is not only due to the restyling of the southern seafront. The city grows, it evolves, it must also have the desire and courage to make new choices. Changes are always destabilizing, but San Salvo is a city on the move, used to changes!
While waiting for the official calendar, what summer will 2024 be?
The summer we are about to experience will be a summer full of events that will satisfy all generations. It will be fun, culturally alive, and we hope to be able to give happiness and serenity to those who decide to choose our city for their leisure.
