Management of protected areas and reception hospitality for sustainable tourism

the climate crisis has produced a change in values among Italian consumers, for whom sustainable travel, especially when associated with protecting the territory and reducing the environmental impact of facilities and mobility, is a particularly relevant phenomenon. Regenerative tourism, ecotourism in nature, support for local communities, the choice of ecological accommodation and the return of the train as a low-impact means of transport for long journeys are the main trends in sustainable travel, already seen in 2023.
In Apulia, there is a heritage of biodiversity that is unique in Italy. Some areas have obtained CETS (European Sustainable Tourism Charter) certification to improve sustainable development and tourism management in protected areas, respecting the needs of the environment, residents, local businesses and visitors. The region’s natural heritage, which boasts real European peaks of excellence for its environmental protection Skills, needs to be further enhanced; the ITS course “Management of protected areas and hospitality systems for sustainable tourism” aims to train profiles that have knowledge and skills in management, marketing and law to develop nature-based and sustainable tourism, indispensable for an effective and efficient governance of both territorial organisations that preside over the management of protected areas and incoming and tourist service operators specialised in the naturalistic product in its different and possible meanings, such as adventure, slow and all tourist practices carried out in direct contact with nature and its resources.

the ITS Course for “Management of protected areas and hospitality systems for sustainable tourism” aims to train a figure capable of enhancing the resources linked to the sustainable and active use of the territory and its natural resources through a strategic approach aimed at safeguarding and enhancing the tourism value of these resources in “protected” contexts. His or her role can also be similar to that of a product manager, in that he or she collaborates in the creation of itineraries with a positive social and environmental impact, in compliance with the principles of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS). Thanks to versatile skills, to linguistic-relational skills, to a deep knowledge of the territory and of the regulations relating to protected areas and the functioning of the Authorities in charge of their management, as well as to the advanced use of different communication technologies (web, visual and multimedia communication), the “Higher Technician” is able to plan, manage, monitor and promote nature tourism programmes in Protected Areas in close integration with the resources of the territory to which he/she belongs, increasing the consensus and support of the local population.

Participants will be able to:

• realise thematic routes for tourism through the protection and enhancement of environmental assets
• promote the application of the european charter for sustainable tourism (cets)
• estimate the environmental impacts of tourism activity to promote a sustainable product
• accompany tourists and visitors to a better understanding of natural resources and phenomena and techniques for their preservation and protection
• analyse and interpreting the market, trends, competition and national and international tourism demand with on-offline tools
• organise and manage the functional aspects of centres, facilities and infrastructures dedicated to the practice of activities to be carried out in the wild by applying sector regulations and the relevant required protocols
• interact with and support the different corporate functions in the management of service delivery processes aimed at the target group of nature-loving tourists