First Cross-Border Event in Ancona
04/07/2024
The ADRIJOROUTES project, co-funded by the Italy-Croatia EU program, proudly hosted its first Cross-Border Event in Ancona, marking a significant milestone in fostering sustainable tourism and cultural integration across the Adriatic Sea.
The event spotlighted the collaborative efforts of eight ports from both the Italian and Croatian shores, aiming to enhance sustainable tourism and cultural profiles in their respective port-city relationships. The ADRIJOROUTES project, which stands for Promoting Sustainable Solutions for Maritime Cultural Tourism, was launched to develop sustainable tourism practices that benefit both the environment and the local communities.
Hosted by the Central Adriatic Ports Authority, the gathering took place at the NH Hotel in Ancona, where innovative experiences and strategies for port cities were discussed among EU partners. This initiative not only highlights the importance of sustainable and inclusive tourism but also the significant role ports play in the socio-economic development of the region.
Project partners include prominent port authorities from Ancona, Venice, Trieste, Ravenna, Zadar, Dubrovnik, with support from the Croatian logistics cluster KIP and Public Institution RERA SD for coordination and development of Split Dalmatia County. Through the collective effort, ADRIJOROUTES aims to continue the work started by the Adrijo - Adriatic Ports Cultural Network, that created a digital platform, under the Remember project, collecting both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, crucial not just for promoting the ports but also for strengthening port-city relationships.
The digital platform Adrijo serves as a single digital ecosystem hosting virtual museums of each port. This initiative has been recognized as a European best practice for strengthening port-city relationships and will be further enriched with innovative content from the ADRIJOROUTES project.
The event featured prominent speakers including Vincenzo Garofalo, President of the Central Adriatic Ports Authority, who emphasized the port as a gateway for sustainable tourism and cultural exploration.
"With ADRIJOROUTES, we are weaving a thread that connects eight Adriatic ports, each telling their unique maritime cultural stories and enhancing the bond with their cities," said Garofalo. "This project is not just about tourism; it's about opening new pathways for cultural exchange and social inclusion across the Adriatic."
The project received valuable insights also from Ms Silvia Comiati, Head of Italy- Croatia Programme Joint Secretariat, which highlighted the importance of such collaborative efforts across the EU framework. Lucia Albano, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, praised the project's cross-border cooperation, highlighting its potential to enhance maritime dimensions and blue economy initiatives within government agendas.
For further details and insights into our first Cross-Border Event and the visions set forth for the ADRIJOROUTES project, please refer to the press release attached.
