FOR A MULTICULTURAL AND SUSTAINABLE

TOURISM

FROM TOURISM

TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

2002: 700 millions of international travels, 6% of Gdp of the world.

2010: flows of millions of people are foreseen, the impact on local resorts, local people and environment will be disastrous.

Today something is changing; new responsibilities and new experiences may change future tourism.

Sustainable tourism means to promote an impartial way of making tourism when distributing profits respectful of local communities and with a low environment impact.

LAWS GOVERNING TOURISM IN ITALY

Constitution: it considers tourism an important element of economic and social development.

Regions: they has the legislative authority and responsibility.

Sustainable tourism: it has importance for the accessibility of tourist services, the professional development of the people employed in the industry, availability of information for tourists and support to companies involved in tourism.

National Conference on Tourism: it reviews the guidelines used to set policies related to tourism.

Local Tourist Systems: they are integrated tourist entities, characterized by an integrated offer or by the an extended presence of tourism companies.

Tourist enterprises: they are companies that run organized economic activities related to the production, promotion, intermediation and management of products and services necessary for training or education of persons in the tourism field.

Charter of Rights of the Tourist: it recognizes the importance of the rights of tourists.

BODIES GOVERNING TOURISM IN ITALY

Central administrationMinistry for Productive Activities: it determines tourism policiesConferenza Stato–Regioni: it has an advisory role in setting directions in the coordination of tourism policies.

Decentralized AdministrationRegions: they have legislative and administrative powers.Provinces: they have their own competences related to the programming and planning within their territories.Municipalities: they are responsible for issuing the authorizations to run incoming activities.ATP (Local Tourist agencies): they are decentralized entities that carry out promotional activities and, with the support of the IAT (Informazione ed Accoglienza turistica), they perform incoming and informational activities.

Private Associatons and and EntitiesPro-Loco: they are private volunteer associations related to specific territories, but of public interest, that generally operate in small towns and communities and are composed of a group of citizens that are interested in valuing and promoting their places of residence in order to provide an incentive to tourism.

AVIGLIANA AND THE SUSA VALLEY CULTURES

352 mt above the sea level.23,26 kmq of surface.10.720 inhabitants.Is 25 km far from Turin, the main town of Piedmont, to which it is connected by the A32 highway, E70 arterial road and by the international railway line, heading to France.It is at the entrance of the Susa Valley, one of the longest valleys of the western Alps.

AVIGLIANA

Avigliana has a recent tradition of local tourism, above all thanks to its cultural and landscape attractions. The cultural heritage is various, mainly in the historical center of the town.

The castle, built in 942 by the marquis of Turin and destroyed by the French troops in 1691.

The town walls were built between the XII and XV century, some rests are still visible in correspondence of the doors of Saint Pietro, of Saint Maria and of Ferronia, very well preserved.

The principal landscape gift of the town is represented by the area of the lakes.The Small lake has preserved its natural characteristics, while that Great Lake has been affected by an anthropic form. Originally the lakes were four and two of them have been in remote times transformed into a peat-bog and into a moor, the Laguna of Mareschi.A remarkable part of the area of the lakes, around 400 hectares, has been, since 1980, submitted to a regime of protection and are under the management of the Natural Park of the Avigliana Lakes. Particularly, the protected area includes the two lake basins, the hilly reliefs around the lakes and the marshy area of the Mareschi.

In this environment, there is a considerable presence of avifauna, characterized by great grebes, coots, herons, sea crows, moorhens, little bitterns, hawks of swamp, swans and ducks. The ittiofauna is primarily characterized by chubs, carps, rudds, pikes, fishes cat, bleaks, tenches, persian and eels. Besides, the shores of the lakes and the swamp are interesting under the botanical point of view, for the existence of reeds of notable extension, of sedges from the enormous locks and, in the swampy parts, of cattails, white lily, rushes and yellows iris. Among the hills, covered by woods of chestnut trees, ashes and oaks, many small mammalian live, besides bambies and badgers.

The landscapes of Susa valley are charming, the valley is a delightful corner of Piedmont with three natural parks offering the visitors spectacular flowers, thick conifer woods and a rich variety of wildlife.

The fortress of Exilles is a border fortification built to watch over a stretch of the Alps of great strategic importance.

The abbey of Novalesa, where you can admire important remains of the late Middle Ages and rare Romanesque frescos famous all over Europe, the abbey of San Michele della Chiusa, situated along the medieval road connecting northern Europe with Rome and the Holy land and the abbey of Sant’Antonio di Ranverso are built in the valley.

Susa is a little town in the middle of valley, called the “Gateway of Italy” due to its strategic position between Moncenisio and Monginevro passes: its characteristic are the roman Arc of Augusto, two other archways are leading to the Terme Graziane, the remnant of an ancient aqueduct, the Amphitheatre and the gothic cathedral of San Giusto.

AVIGLIANA AND SUSA VALLEY TRADITIONS

The historical Palio of Avigliana, reaching its twentieth edition, takes back to the celebrations held in 1389 in honor of the passage in our valley of Valentina Visconti, on her way to marry the king of France‘s brother: on that occasion, Amedeo VII of Savoia called “the Red Count” rode along the streets of the city, heading a procession composed by all the nobles from Piedmont in a pompous and cheerful climate.

The celebrations, that are held at the beginning of the month of June and last nearly a week, are based on shows, little street markets, public meals organized by the “borghi” (districts), tournaments such as the bow-shot, medieval parades and fireworks, culminating in a horse race that assigns the ”palio” to one of the eight districts.

Special ingredients full of flavour are used to prepare the traditional dishes: goat cheese, chestnuts, fruits, vegetables such as potatoes, turnips, cabbages, pumpkins, leeks. Some traditional recipes may seem poor but they are rich in wholesome ingredients and intense flavour.

The specialities of our patisserie are the Gianduiotti chocolates of the old tradition of Piedmont, made with chocolate and hazelnuts, and the Canestrelli of Vaie, biscuits with their typical lemon taste cooked in a cast-iron pan.

The wines of the delimited production area (d.o.c.) feature grape varieties that are predominantly local (Avanà, Rosso Valsusa, Ramié, Doux d’Henry); these grapes grow at an average high of 1000 m. on the mountains and we are proud to say that this is a European record.

The Susa Valley has particular handcraft: the school of wood carving of Melezet, near Bardonecchia on the border with France, produces famous fruit bowls.

GOOD BEHAVIOURS ABOUT TOURISM

Tourism, that can represent a powerful means of development, has to be active part of a strategy for a sustainable management of the resources it depends on. In particular, tourism should:- guarantee long term environmental sustainability, ensuring an acceptable evolution regarding the effects of its activities on natural resources, on biodiversity and on the capacity to absorb environmental impact and wastes;- ensure the economic sustainability and durability, through a global management of the resources that includes the protection of cultural and natural heritage; - promote the ethical and social equity with regards to the local community, paying attention to the weak balances faced by many tourist sites;Good practices that should also be taken into account include:- the involvement of small companies or local cooperatives, so that most of the money that is spent by tourists ensures local development, rather than profit for industrial companies of tourism business;- a real encounter with local people and culture, in order to enhance a better knowledge and understanding;- participants should be given information about the whole project of a travel offer, so that they can get involved in meaningful relations with themselves, with local communities and with the experience they are undertaking;- the transparency of the price of a travel, so that participants know exactly what the destination of the money he has invested will be.

BODIES GOVERNING TOURISM IN SUSA VALLEY

In Avigliana is based the “High and Lower Susa Valley Tourist information and promotion Agency”. It was created by the cooperation of the Region of Piedmont and the Province of Turin together with the local mountain communities and municipalities. It aims at the development of the local tourist resources, by collecting and spreading information.

In order to fulfil these tasks, there is a Tourist Information Office that provides assistance to tourists (accomodations, bookings, leasures and sport activities), and promotes events for the enhancement of the tourist resources, in order to attract tourists and to encourage their staying on spot.

In the area is also active the “Montagnedoc Agency”, local tourist organization of the mountain area including more valleys. Montagnedoc is a mixed capital, public and private partnership: they are local experts in the promotion of the area and in the organization and improvement of tourist services.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Natural Park of the Avigliana Lakes:safeguard of the damp zone;restoration of the hydrobiological conditions of the lakes;control and the discipline of the territory;Park Visitors Center (information, library…), fishing Ecomuseum, several itineraries for visitors.

The Park takes part to the project “Terre da vivere”, that aims at a complete procedure (filiera) from wheat to bread.

-Cultivation, natural seeding and organic manuring

-millstone grinding, mixture using spring water, oven cooking, maintenance in cloth sacks in a wood cupboard

-marketing of bread in the area of Avigliana.

The base of the tourism policies of the Municipality of Avigliana is the ”Tourism Charter of Quality”.It is the fruit of the work of a network of European municipalities that joined the project "VILLAGE Terraneo", financed by the European Union, with the purpose to adopt actions of management of the cultural and natural heritage and tourist development. The countries participating are Italy, Portugal, France and Spain.The signatories of this Charter adhere to the principles of the Charter of the European Cities towards Sustainability (Aalborg, 1994), as well as those of the Charter of Sustainable Tourism (Lanzarote, 1995).

TOURISM CHARTER OF QUALITY

“Città di charme” (Cities of charme), that promotes tourism towards towns with historical traditions and artistic beauties;

”Progetto cultura materiale” (“Material culture project”), networking some local “ecomuseums” that enable the local communities to remember their own roots so as to set the bases for the future in the view of sustainable development.

The Dinamitificio Alfred Nobel was a factory of explosives established in 1872, that became the most important in Europe during the second world war. It represents one of the most interesting examples of industrial architecture. It has now been rehabilitated into a dynamite ecomuseum.The association “Amici di Avigliana” (“Friends of Avigliana”) participates in the management of the museum.

AVIGLIANA COOPERATION WITH PROVINCE OF TURIN

“Gusto Valsusa”, food and vine event for typical typical from the Lower Susa Valley; in this framework “Cioccolato nel borgo medioevale“ (Chocolate in the medioeval suburb”) with chocolate tastings, pastry making exhibition and dinners on specific themes in the local restaurants.

Tourist hospitality can count on traditional solutions (hotels, restaurants and pizzerie).

There are also some alternative accomodation options such as bed & breakfast in family house, houses for holidays (managed by the cappuccini monks and by a social cooperative, they offer a service of accomodation mainly for groups and allow the use kitchen) and a camping (managed by the Local Tourist agency).

AVIGLIANA COOPERATION WITH THE COMUNITÀ MONTANA BASSA VALLE DI SUSA AND VAL CENISCHIA

ALTERNATIVE ACCOMODATION IN AVIGLIANA