Cultural and environment tourism in Polesine and Po river delta Laura Altin Lisa Baumeister Alpar Csegzi KateÅ™ina Fraindová Niya Shekerova Manuel Toth Franca Battigelli Robert Loncaric Zoltan Pal Belen Pedregal Branimir Vukosav Outline • Description of study area • Analysis of the study area • Tourism product proposals Study area Po delta http://it.wikipedia.org/ • • • • 400 km2 ca 50,000 inhabitants river branches since 1999 heritage site by UNESCO Source. http://www.magicoveneto.it/delta/ParcoDeltaDelPo/Parco-Naturale-Delta-del-Po.htm Polesine area • Adige river, Po river • expanding eastward because of detritus sediment phenomenon • Biggest cities: Rovigo (51,000), Adria (20,000) Padova • • • • hub of the region cultural heritage services information centers about region Tourist arrivals by month Source: http://www.padovatravel.it/file/Osservatorio/QuadStat2010Padova.pdf 2500 2000 1500 Venezia 1000 Padova 500 0 7000 2008 2009 year 2010 number of overnights (thousands) number of arrivals (thousands) Number of tourists 6000 5000 4000 3000 Venezia 2000 Padova 1000 0 2008 2009 year 2010 Data source: http://www.padovatravel.it; http://www.comune.venezia.it Analysis Padova Strenghts • Good infrastructure – – – • • • • • • • • Restaurants Lodging opportunities (different price classes) Connected to airports (Marco Polo, Treviso); railway, buses History of 3000 years (historical centre) Water system and its history (canals) Shopping facilities Landscape, Nature and other cities closedby Cheap compared to Venice Religious heritage (St. Antonio) Not too touristic Honest and friendly society Weaknesses • Attention of Venice (overshadow) • Airports are in Venice, expensive taxi service • Not diverse in tourism products • Lack of initative in marketing and use of opportunities and possibilities Interesting water systems/canals Historical city of Padova Po delta Strenghts • Cycling roads • Big cities are nearby (Padova, Venice) • River Po – fishing, boat-trips • Diversity in birds • Sandy beaches • Water pumping system (effective and attractive for tourists) • Farming activities • Empty old buildings Weaknesses • Lack of lodging • Dirty water and garbage on beaches • Risk of subsidence of surface • Empty old buildings • Industrial facilities/buildings (landscape) Po river delta Boat trips in Po delta Infrastructure – industrial facilities Polesine Strenghts • Interesting history / buildings • Big cities are nearby (Padova, Venice) • Quiet area • Spacious • Cultural identity • Active local community – Public events (also attractive for non-locals) – Small museums Weaknesses • Infrastructure – Lack of public transport – Few restaurants and supermarkets – Scattered settlements • Weak language skills (weakness for foreign tourists) • Lack of leisure activities/opportunities • Monotonous landscape Villa dell’Arca del Santo in Anguillara Veneta Infrastructure – buildings in Anguillara Veneta Borderstone in Polesine Torre Abate Opportunities • Visit Po Delta • predominantly natural area to the east of Ferrara and north of Ravenna, in the north-east of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, where the River Po divides into several smaller rivers before meeting the Adriatic Sea. • is now protected, either as part of the large Parco del Delta del Po Nature and environment • the region is known for the wildlife, in particular the birds that are found in the wetlands and lagoons, with several thousands of species having been identified in the region. • Those who visit the Po Delta and wish to immerse themselves in nature can visit the Comacchio Valleys which have a unique ambience, with hundreds of birds that live in the lagoon (such as purple herons, mallards, moorhens, coots, and cormorants, a recent arrival). Wetlands and valley • Have a unique vegetation with the landscape including trees such as oak, pine, the tamarisk, beech and cane. • The Po Delta Valleys together form a huge complex of coastal dunes which act as natural defences against sea erosion and are very important from the naturalistic point of view Cycling Holidays in the Po Delta Park • The flatness of the land and the availability literally hundreds of bicycle routes makes the Delta Park an ideal destination for cyclists. There is something from everyone from the city cyclist to the enthusiast who happily spends all day in the saddle. • Every area of the park is accessible to Cycling by way of specific itineraries and routes. We suggest departing from Mesola and descending the entire Po di Volano as far as its source, approx. 41km. • However the queen of the local Cycling holiday routes is the Destra Po. One hundred and twenty-five kilometres along the Ferrara bank of the Po River. A long route, accessible to all, that runs through a slowly changing landscape as far as the actual Delta at Gorino with its splendid lighthouse overlooking the sea. The "Destra Po“ cycling route • One of the longest cycling route in Italy runs along the banks of the river Po from Stellata di Bondeno to Gorino. It is part of the “ Eurovelo” a network of 12 cycling routes that stretch across Europe and is the central tract of route number eight that runs from Athens to Cadice. It was officially opened on 9 September 2001. • Total length: 125.5 Km • Level of difficulty: adept for all levels • Gradient: Flat the only exceptions being the rises and descents of the dams and banks. • Traffic: Mostly bicycles only short stretches of mixed traffic. THE PROVINCIAL MUSEUM SYSTEM Small and large “museums” present in the province have joined to form a single system, an efficient and functional organization capable of implementing ideas and qualified projects aiming to share information and experiences. Today, the Provincial Museum System of Polesine is a strong structure, a qualified visit card for the Polesine culture. It fulfils all the necessary requirements to play a key role in developing the tourist/cultural potential of the province of Rovigo. The Museum System has been included in the “Italian Culture Portal” Museum system in Polesine area Products The importance of tourism packages • This territory has a rich touristic potential • This tourism products can be competitive only if we group into tourism packages • There are several packages for different target groups • A tourism package can include accommodation, meals, museums, trips, tours and other activites related to rural tourism • This touristic packages are related to Delta Po and Polesine area Delta Po aquaculture agriculture enbankments natural environment Polesine agriculture archaeological sites cultural heritage ponds Target groups of tourism products 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Foreign tourists: That type of tourist which comes from an other country and will spend less than one day in our area. Domestic tourist (pupils): Young tourist most of them students who come from surrounding area and will not spend more than two days or a weekend in our area. Domestic tourist (active adults): Middle-aged tourist who come from surrounding area and will not spend more than two days or a weekend in our area. Domestic tourist (retired): Retired tourists from surrounding area who can spend more than two days or a weekend in our area. Domestic tourist (far away): That type of tourist which comes from inland and will spend about one day in our area. Tourism products Foreign tourists Domestic tourist Domestic tourist (activ Domestic tourist Domestic tourist (far (pupils) adult) (retire) away) Boat tour Boat tour "Treasure hunting" Eductional path Visiting museums Roman night Roman festival Foto making points Bicycle tour Horse riding Visiting museums Kayak/canoe Roman festival Sweet potato festival Seafood festival Foto making points Boat tour "Treasure hunting" Eductional path Fishing activity Sport fishing Bicycle tour Horse riding Visiting museums Kayak/canoe Roman night Roman festival Sweet potato festival Seafood festival Boat tour Fishing activity Sport fishing Visiting museums Roman night Roman festival Sweet potato festival Seafood festival Bird watching Foto making points Rural tourism (b & b) Saint Antony festival Boat tour "Treasure hunting" Sport fishing Bicycle tour Horse riding Visiting museums Kayak/canoe Roman night Roman festival Bird watching Foto making points Rural tourism (b & b) Saint Antony festival Rural tourism (b & b)