Iniziativa eco-responsabile e CSR

🏖️ The EU-funded "FuTOURiSME" initiative provides 1.8 million euros to support tourism SMEs in adopting innovative, sustainable, and digital solutions. Eligible participants include tourism SMEs from Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, and Spain, registered for at least one year. Projects eligible for funding of 30,000€ each must align with EU priorities and cover one of several themes, such as sustainable strategies, mobility, circular services, green transitions, networking, digitalization, and skill development. Applications must be submitted by 27 November 2024, 17:00 Italian time. Selected projects, with a maximum duration of 12 months, receive an initial 20% pre-financing, followed by further payments after intermediate and final evaluations.

🌍 Kel 12, committed to sustainability, attends COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, after signing the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism in 2023. Angelica Pastorella, the company's sustainability project manager and anthropologist, views the conference as an opportunity to engage internationally on climate strategies in tourism and share best practices for sustainability policies. Kel 12's participation underscores the need for a global, cohesive climate action plan in tourism.

🏕 Outdoor tourism in Italy has evolved into a sector with over 2,600 facilities and about 1.5 million beds. The conference "Il Futuro è open air" took place on October 21 in Lazise (VR), organized by FAITA-Federcamping. Italy expects 11.4 million arrivals in 2024, a 3.5% increase from 2023, with 71 million presences (+1.3% from 2023) and an annual turnover of 8 billion euros. Veneto leads with 17.7% of beds, followed by Tuscany (14%) and others. The sector aims for longer seasons and is focusing on staff training and digital skills. Lake Garda recorded a 73.8% occupancy in open-air facilities from March 21 to September 27, 2024, with Germany being the top market. Veneto had a 76% occupancy, with tourists mainly from Germany (60%), the Netherlands (14%), and Italy (6.3%). Lombardy also reported strong performance, while Trentino's open-air structures offered over 6,000 beds, with Dutch tourists staying the longest (13 days on average).

🏖️ In 2024, over 50% of travelers indicated climate change would impact their vacation choices, favoring cooler destinations to escape heat. Companies like Intrepid Travel encourage tourism to unique, lesser-known locations such as Greenland, Ghana, Mongolia, and Australia, focusing on sustainable travel to combat overtourism. The Scottish term "hurkle-durkling" highlights a trend where vacationers prioritize rest and relaxation. Culinary tourism is increasingly central to the travel experience, with a shift towards authentic, local food festivals and experiences. The tourism industry in 2025 is driven by sustainable practices, innovation, authenticity, and responsibility.

🌱 Sustainable tourism is growing, and eco-friendly hotels are becoming a popular choice for travelers. Digital marketing strategies tailored to promote eco-friendly initiatives can increase online visibility and market position. Key tips include creating a website that highlights sustainability, storytelling on social media, targeted search and display advertising campaigns, optimizing Google My Business for eco-hotels, offering eco-sustainable packages, personalizing booking engine offers, and utilizing influencer marketing. These efforts can make an eco-hotel an irresistible destination for eco-conscious travelers.

❄ Apt Madonna di Campiglio plans an early ski season start on November 16, despite a warm winter hindering snow cannon use; full opening is set for November 29. Livigno is snowless with freezing levels at 3,700 meters, while snow is present at 3,466 meters on Monte Bianco with Skyway reopening on November 29. Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie and Dolomiti Superski, opening traditionally on the last Saturday of November, also rely on costly snow cannons. Vialattea's skipass pre-sale has been affected by the warmth.

🌲 Residenza Khaddiuggia, managed by nearly octogenarian Manila Foresti Sancinelli, is the first Italian enterprise to join the Top 100 Stories list from Green Destinations. The competition showcases 100 exemplary destinations and businesses addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges to promote responsible travel experiences. Residenza Khaddiuggia, located on the island of Pantelleria, achieved second-level (Silver) certification and has been recognized for its innovative, original, and replicable model of eco-friendly hospitality. The business stood out for involving local producers and guests in a network that fosters both a circular economy and more humane, empathetic tourism, as well as intergenerational collaboration with IATH Academy Lake Como students. Concetta D’Emma, Italy's Green Destinations representative, played a key role in this achievement, promoting Italian tourism stories of passion, sacrifice, and resilience.

🏢 Space Hotels, founded in 1974, currently features over 45 independent 3- and 4-star hotels in 30 of Italy's most beautiful destinations. Newly appointed president Beniamino Tomasoni aims to expand into provincial capitals and art cities, emphasizing a hybrid model combining independence and quality for these hotels. The group emphasizes sustainability, inclusion, and technological advancements to optimize operations without compromising personal hospitality. Space Hotels will be at the World Travel Market in London from November 5-7, stand N3-200.

🎬 Alberto Gutierrez, CEO of Civitatis, projects Italian customers to grow from over 300,000 in 2023 to about 600,000 by the end of 2024, aiming for 1.2 million the following year. Madrid-based Civitatis, founded in 2008, offers 4,000 destinations and nearly 90,000 activities in more than 160 countries, serving 30 million customers. Italy is the fourth market after Spain, Mexico, and Brazil, with over 5,000 activities in 437 localities. A promotional offer for Italian agencies runs until December 15, offering a 15% commission on bookings for New York. Civitatis plans a 5-year investment in Italy, seeking to expand collaborations and build a larger Italian market team, including hiring a country manager.

🇮🇹 Formentera, managed by tourism promotion manager Leonardo Metastasio, draws Italians as its primary market after Spain. From May to September 2024, the Balearic island welcomed 476,270 visitors, with Italians accounting for 24.23%. Overnight stays rose by 4.11% to 157,202 from the previous year's 150,993. Formentera aims to promote astrotourism, events, and local gastronomy aligned with its commitment to sustainability.