The journey toward more sustainable, place-based tourism continues with the Second Community Atelier on Experiential Tourism, which will take place March 25, 2026 at Borgo Danilo Dolci and aims to co-design two community-based tourism itineraries together with local stakeholders who already took part in the first meeting on March 12.
The first atelier, hosted in the evocative Borgo di Danilo Dolci in the Gulf of Trappeto area, represented a key moment of exchange and activation. Opening the session, Daniela Dolci welcomed participants by emphasizing the symbolic and strategic value of the place: “I believe it is extremely important that this area, which is not yet heavily impacted by tourism, can generate an alternative form of tourism.” A clear invitation to imagine models different from mass tourism—often “destructive”—and instead focus on a niche of mindful visitors interested in local culture.
During the March 12 session, more than sixty participants—including students, cultural operators, third-sector organizations, creative enterprises, and professionals in non-conventional tourism—contributed to identifying needs, opportunities, and visions for the future of the territory. Among them were students from the Danilo Dolci Institute in Partinico (tourism section) and Professor Barbera, an academic and expert in Mediterranean Landscape, who brought a fresh and informed perspective on the area’s potential and the importance of creating concrete opportunities for younger generations.
The intergenerational and multidisciplinary dialogue highlighted the importance of networking. As Marco Coico from Le Vie dei Tesori noted, “occasions like these are truly valuable,” as they allow different yet aligned stakeholders to come together and generate “very meaningful ideas” based on shared needs and visions.
A significant contribution also came from Francesca Vannini of Addio Pizzo Travel, a member of the Italian Association for Responsible Tourism, who has long been committed to promoting ethical and sustainable tourism models. Her intervention reinforced the connection between responsible tourism and fragile territories, underlining how, in areas affected by depopulation, tourism can become a driver of social and economic regeneration.
At the heart of the discussion was the concept of “Restanza” (staying). As highlighted during the atelier, it goes beyond simply remaining in a place: it means actively building new perspectives within territories, generating value from local resources. From this perspective, community tourism becomes a concrete tool to activate development processes that originate within the community and return value to it.
The second Atelier builds on this path, translating reflections into concrete actions. Participants will work together to define two experiential tourism itineraries capable of narrating the territory through its cultural, environmental, and social resources. This co-design process aims to strengthen connections among local actors and to build an authentic, sustainable, and shared tourism offer, where “restanza” becomes not only a concept but a living and generative practice.
Want you join the Second Community Atelier on Experiential Tourism? Click here!
See you
on Wednesday 25 March, 2026 | from 9:00 AM
at Borgo Danilo Dolci, Trappeto (PA)
EXTOR – Experiential tourism for sustainable rural development is cofunded by INAPP – National Agency for Erasmus+ born from the collaboration of several organisations:
- LAND Impresa Sociale (coordinator, Italy)
- INFODEF (Spain)
- DieBerater (Austria)
- Einurd (Iceland)
- CSI – Center for Social Innovation (Cyprus)
- OTC – Olypic Training & Consulting (Greece)
- CANDIDE (Belgium)
For further information about EXTOR, please contact Aurelia Schera: aurelia.schera@impresasocialeland.org.