«After the emotions given by the Giro d’Italia, we are happy to also host the Giro Next Gen, with three stages that will cross our region». Roberto Occhiuto, president of the Calabria Region, underlines this in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sportthe importance of the cycling event as an opportunity to promote the territory.
For the governor, the presence of the race represents an international showcase capable of showing landscapes, villages and natural beauty of Calabria, consolidating the relationship between the region and major sporting events.
«A dynamic and attractive Calabria»
Occhiuto claims the path started in recent years to use sporting, cultural and musical events as tools for growth and enhancement of the regional image.
«We have worked to promote Calabria through major sporting, cultural and musical events, with the aim of attracting tourists and investments and changing the narrative of our land», says the president. The objective, he explains, is to describe «a dynamic Calabria, welcoming and capable of competing with the best destinations in the Mediterranean».
The challenge of the Ciclovia dei Parchi
During the interview, Occhiuto also focuses on the growing interest in cycle tourism and the role of the Calabria Parks Cycle Route, considered one of the main regional tourist infrastructures.
«With over 545 kilometers crossing Pollino, Sila, Serre and Aspromonte, it represents a model of sustainable tourism that enhances internal areas and creates new economic opportunities», he highlights.
According to the President of the Region, the project is attracting an ever-increasing number of Italian and foreign visitors and contributes to distributing tourist flows throughout the year, generating positive effects for local communities and the lesser-known territories of Calabria.