Move from words to deeds, make the integrated cross-strait area a reality leaving behind the inertia of the past. To achieve this ambitious objective, the mayor of Messina Federico Basile and Reggio Calabria, Giuseppe Falcomatà, met today at Palazzo Zanca. Capturing new tourist flows, moving them between the two cities of the Strait which have a lot to offer in terms of scenic and cultural beauties and more. Basile and Falcomatà expressed the need to develop a strong synergy between the two sides by promoting effective and sustainable connections. An important means of promoting true integration is the sea metro. The meeting was attended by the deputy mayor of Messina Salvatore Mondello, the councilors Massimo Finocchiaro and Enzo Caruso, the general director Salvo Puccio and the Chief of Cabinet of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria Francesco Dattola.
Basile: “A unique challenge for Messina and Reggio
“A mutual and cordial exchange of ideas and opinions regarding the future for the construction of a broader vision of the Straits Metropolitan Area in order to promote shared development and encourage the conurbation of the metropolitan cities of Messina and Reggio Calabriathrough their respective strategic potential for a rebirth that can be achieved through the valorisation and integration between the two banks of their respective economic, environmental and cultural resources, essential elements to make the Strait an attractive hub for tourist flows”, said Mayor Basile.
“From the meeting emerged the joint desire to restore to the Strait its historic role as the center of gravity of the Mediterranean for a new and more advanced international dimension, and to this end, the idea – added Basile – is to develop a strategic communication plan and development for the creation of the Strait Tourist Area, considered a fundamental marketing tool to promote musical, cultural, tourist and sporting events in synergy to encourage a process of quantitative and qualitative change in the Strait Area”.
Falcomatà: “Promote the conurbation of the two metropolitan cities”
“A mutual and cordial exchange of ideas and opinions regarding the future for the construction of a broader vision of the Strait Metropolitan Area in order to promote shared development and encourage the conurbation of the metropolitan cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria, through their respective potential strategic for a rebirth achievable through the valorisation and integration between the two banks of their respective economic, environmental and cultural resources, essential elements to make the Strait an attractive hub for tourist flows”, highlighted Mayor Basile.
Mayor Falcomatà highlighted the importance of the relationship between the cities of Reggio and Messina, characterized by culture and many common traditions, “united by a very short stretch of sea, they both represent a single area of the Strait that shares plans for territorial continuity” Falcomatà said.
“Today's meeting went beyond the simple institutional greeting – added the mayor of Reggio Calabria – and served to put together some points on which to think about the prospects for common development of the Strait area. From the promotion of the territory, to culture, to tourist accommodation. Naturally one of the fundamental hubs is that of mobility and connections between the two banks of the Strait. But, apart from the programmatic activities, I believe it is very important to underline the message that two important realities like ours send out, two cities sister metropolitan cities, with neighboring territories united by the sea, which are able to dialogue by identifying common traits that give strength to the entire community of the Strait also from a national perspective”.