“Taste the Destination - Territori in Azione”: GUSTI activates Veneto territories through a new experiential pathway
13/05/2026
Within the framework of the European project GUSTI - Gastro UpScaled Tourist Itinerary in rural regions of Croatia and Italy, co-funded by the Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme, CESCOT Veneto is launching “Taste the Destination – Territori in Azione”, a territorial activation pathway that will take place across Veneto between May and July 2026.
The initiative represents one of the concrete territorial actions developed within the broader “Taste the Destination” framework of GUSTI, transforming existing events, local networks and territorial realities into opportunities for collaboration, participation and experiential tourism development.
Structured as a series of thematic modules hosted in different territories, the pathway combines workshops, networking moments, co-design activities and public events aimed at strengthening connections between businesses, communities, institutions, tourism operators and young people.
The programme explores how gastronomy, local identity, storytelling and experiential tourism can become drivers for sustainable territorial development, while also encouraging cooperation between urban and rural areas.
The pathway will unfold through four territorial stages, each dedicated to a different thematic perspective:
· Noventa Padovana (22 May): local activation, community engagement and collaboration among businesses within the framework of Aperitivo Streeta territorial event strongly dedicated not only to local promotion but also to social engagement, solidarity and community participation
· Abano Terme (15 June): wellbeing, product valorisation and territorial promotion, with activities connected to sensory experiences and local excellence, including a tasting of the “wellbeing gelato” developed in collaboration with the CNR - National Research Council
· Este (25–26 June): sustainability, storytelling and enhancement of local good practices through collaborative experiences, including an interactive murder mystery dinner
· Corte Zecchina (6–7 July): rural assets, soft mobility, entrepreneurship and territorial development, featuring a territorial treasure hunt designed to encourage exploration and local discovery.
A key role within the initiative is played by students from Smart Innovation School, who will actively participate in field experimentation, collaborative activities and territorial laboratories alongside local stakeholders and project partners. Through this experience, students will contribute ideas and practical perspectives while developing skills connected to communication, territorial development and sustainable tourism.
The initiative will be officially presented during the launch event taking place on 14 May 2026 at the Padua Fair, bringing together territorial representatives, stakeholders and partners involved in the pathway. All events will be open to the public but with a limited number of participants, and will be developed with the active support and involvement of the students throughout the different territorial stages.
Through these four stages, “Territori in Azione” proposes an itinerary that explores the territory through different perspectives and themes, creating opportunities for dialogue, experimentation and long-term collaboration between local actors.
