A Region that is a pioneer in sustainable tourism with its Puglia 365 strategic plan, heading in this direction since 2015. This is what Luca Scandale, General Manager of Pugliapromozione, tells us.

 “Setting the sustainability of Pugliapromozione’s activities and campaigns as a goal, top priority is deseasonalizing offers to avoid overtourism and decentralising tourism toward areas of new experiences. We invested heavily in cycling tourism as a main reason for coming to Puglia as well as on trekking paths,” Scandale comments. To name but a few examples, the Ciclovia Adriatica along the Adriatic coast and the Borbone route further inland or, for those who prefer walking, the rock churches route between Gravina, Altamura and Laterza or the wild nature and postcard panoramas along the Otranto-Santa Maria di Leuca coast.

“The more sophisticated, conscious traveller can also overlap with high-end tourism,” Scandale concludes, “and Pugliapromozione is committed to funding activities promote our traditions, thereby preserving them. For instance, there are a variety of Easter and Christmas traditions as well as numerous initiatives for carnivale - festivals that boost awareness of our typical dishes. The ‘fuoco’ or ‘fire’ rites, such as the Focàra in Salento, and the artistic illuminations expressed through the ‘cattedrali della luce’, the ‘cathedrals of light’, are other examples of promoting traditions.”

One of the most unusual proposals is the journey from the north through Monti Dauni roads, featuring breath-taking views, wilderness, small villages perched on the cliffs and ancient fortresses. It goes through the smallest village in Puglia, Celle San Vito, with 163 inhabitants and one factor that binds them inextricably: the Franco-Provençal language imported by the Angevins.

Proposals the Puglia Region and Pugliapromozione will present at BIT 2022, held at fieramilanocity from Sunday 10th to Tuesday 12th of April.