The CETS 2024 Forum, convened on 29 November by the Cinque Terre National Park at the headquarters of the Riviere di Liguria Chamber of Commerce (La Spezia) to welcome the many protagonists of the European Charter for Sustainable Development (CETS) took place with a successful attendance. ).
The Forum is a fundamental periodic meeting between citizens, associations and entities operating in the territory of the protected area who have adhered to the methodology developed by the European Federation of Europarc Parks. The aim of the initiative is to share information, solutions and ideas to make tourist hospitality sustainable from an environmental and social point of view in the protected area according to the CETS philosophy for the improvement of the accommodation offer in the parks. To date, over 160 accommodation and catering facilities have joined the network, obtaining the Park Quality Mark (CETS Phase II).
To underline the complementarity of the roles of the Park on the one hand and of the citizens on the other, the Forum was associated with Transparency Day, with a particular reference to the methods of public access to public administration documents, and with an eye to the future , dedicated to the role of artificial intelligence in the development of communication between parties.
The participants received a greeting from the new President of the Park Lorenzo Viviani, who kicked off the afternoon's work, underlining the value of the path undertaken through the European Charter for sustainable tourism: “The beauty of the Cinque Terre, a world heritage site and an icon recognized throughout the world, entrusts us with a great responsibility: to welcome millions of visitors every year by offering them a transformative experience, capable of leaving an indelible mark in the memory and of transmitting a feeling of rare beauty. The objective – he continued – is that the visitor approaches our territory with the same spirit of respect as someone who enters a cathedral, experiencing a profound emotion to carry within himself, rather than to immortalise with a telephone. The Cinque Terre are an anthropized park, where man is at the center of a delicate and precious balance. For this reason, listening, collaboration and exchange with the local communities who live and work in the area are fundamental. Being a Park represents an added value, a unique opportunity to develop and monitor increasingly pragmatic and innovative tools for the effective management of sustainable tourism, for the benefit of both man and the environment.”
The director of the Park Patrizio Scarpellini moderated the meeting: “The participation registered today by hospitality operators and associations in the CETS Forum is extremely significant. This event – he continued – is traditionally one of the most popular among those organized by the Park with the various stakeholders, in areas ranging from conservation to sustainable management of the territory. The path of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS) has always proved constructive, and today's meeting confirms the effectiveness of the network activated by the Charter. With its voluntary nature and its shared objectives, the CETS represents a valuable tool for participation. In fact, it promotes coordination between territorial policies, promoting sustainable development that protects shared cultural and natural heritage. In this sense, the methodology proposed by CETS confirms itself as a concrete and valid response to the challenges of sustainable tourism.”
Specific interventions were dedicated to each of the three phases of the CETS, from phase I which concerns the qualification of the Park, to phase II reserved for accommodation and catering activities up to phase III which involves tour operators. Renato Goretta, PN5T data protection manager, Enrica Maggiani, CETS contact person for PN5T, Francesco Marchese of PN5T, Stefano Amoroso, CEAS PN5T and Corrado Teofili of Federparchi took turns at the microphone.
Among the most significant innovations have emerged the memoranda of understanding between the Park and the local associations with the aim of giving shape to the mutual commitments between the subjects for the implementation of the CETS and the catering regulations aimed at enhancing the products and traditions local food and wine, for example through the creation of a shared green purchasing centre.
A positive sign also in terms of the actions implemented by the Park to encourage the stay of visitors, through the Cinque Terre Card at discounted prices for guests of CETS-branded structures, which went from around 3000 in 2019 to 20 thousand cards sold in 2024 .
If 2024 has been defined as a transition year in the CETS management of the Park, the renewal of the protected area's membership of the Charter is scheduled for 2025: new meetings of the Forum are expected, new insights to outline the vision and actions that will promote sustainable tourism in the Cinque Terre in the coming years.
