At a time when sustainable tourism is at the heart of development policies, Confapi Sicilia is launching a project that combines innovation, territory and businesses: the first regional model of integrated cycle tourism is being created in Mussomeli, designed to promote inland areas and support small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism sector.
The memorandum of understanding, signed on 18 June between Confapi Sicilia and the Municipality of Mussomeli, marks the launch of a concrete initiative inspired by the national guidelines of Confapi Turismo. The objective? To promote soft mobility, encourage cycle tourism in Sicily and create new opportunities for SMEs in the area.
Mussomeli, in the heart of the province of Caltanissetta, is already well known among cycling enthusiasts for hosting national mountain biking events. With this project, the village becomes the first “testing ground” for a model that can be replicated across the island.
The plan involves local administrations, cultural associations, tourism businesses and trade organisations in a synergistic effort that aims to:
Mayor Giuseppe Catania emphasised how cycle tourism can become a driver for the local economy, stimulating the creation of new businesses and increasing the visibility of the area.
The initiative is promoted by the president of Confapi Turismo e Cultura Sicilia, Tiziana Serretta, who highlighted the intention to give substance and momentum to national strategies. ‘With the Mussomeli model,’ she says, ‘we want to create a regional network where SMEs can become protagonists in cycling tourism. This means attracting new visitors, creating jobs and promoting long-term sustainable development.’
The agreement also includes specific measures to support businesses, such as:
CicloWeek for Schools and NEETs: educational courses on sustainable mobility and active tourism
Bike&Taste: bike tours combined with food and wine stops at local producers
CicloRaduno delle Terre di Mezzo: annual event in Mussomeli with cycling tours and exhibition of typical products
School of Cycle Tourism: courses for tour operators on marketing, hospitality and the creation of cycle tourism packages
Sicilian Cycle Tourism Festival: regional exhibition with events, workshops and tastings
The agreement has a two-year duration and provides for the creation of a Technical Coordination Committee, as well as the introduction of cycling tourism standards to ensure quality services for Italian and international cycling tourists.
With this protocol, Sicily is sending a clear signal: to focus on cycle tourism as a growth strategy for SMEs and to promote its extraordinary landscape, cultural and food and wine heritage.
Mussomeli thus becomes a symbol of change: from an inland village to a hub of sustainable mobility, demonstrating that innovation, territory and business can pedal in the same direction.
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