The RETES project continues its journey through the five pilot areas with the Province of Bergamo, in Italy, where partners are analysing the role of tourism operators and vocational training providers in strengthening resilience and emergency preparedness.
As part of its work in five European pilot areas, the RETES project is carrying out local mapping activities to better understand how tourism stakeholders, vocational education and training providers, civil protection actors and other local organisations cooperate in the prevention and management of risks affecting tourism destinations.
This week, the focus is on the Province of Bergamo, located in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. In this pilot area, the mapping activities are carried out by project partners ENAIP Nazionale and EPC – European Project Consulting, with particular attention to the links between tourism, training and resilience-building.
The Province of Bergamo offers a highly diverse territorial and tourism profile. The area combines historic urban centres, rural landscapes, mountain areas and Alpine valleys, creating a destination that attracts visitors interested in culture, nature, outdoor activities and local traditions. This variety makes Bergamo a relevant pilot area for analysing how different tourism environments may be affected by risks and how local actors can prepare for them.
Tourism in the province includes well-known cultural destinations, heritage sites, mountain tourism areas and rural landscapes that support nature-based tourism, outdoor sports and cultural visits. The destination attracts both domestic and international visitors throughout the year, with different tourism flows depending on the season, the type of activity and the specific area of the province.
At the same time, the territory is exposed to several natural hazards. These include hydrogeological risks, flooding, landslides and extreme weather events, which may affect local communities, transport connections, accommodation facilities, outdoor activities and tourism infrastructure. In mountain and rural areas, these risks can be particularly relevant due to the close relationship between tourism activities, accessibility and environmental conditions.
Within this context, RETES is mapping the network of tourism operators, vocational education and training providers and other relevant local stakeholders. The aim is to understand how training institutions can support the development of skills related to resilience, preparedness and emergency management in the tourism sector.
This aspect is especially important for RETES, as the project focuses on strengthening the role of VET providers in preparing tourism professionals to respond more effectively to risk situations. By identifying existing training capacities, cooperation mechanisms and local needs, the project will contribute to the design of future resources that can help tourism actors improve their preparedness and coordination with civil protection systems.
The work carried out in the Province of Bergamo will provide valuable information on how training, tourism and risk management can be better connected. It will also help the RETES partnership understand how resilience-related skills can be integrated into vocational training pathways and adapted to the needs of different types of tourism destinations.
Together with the other pilot areas, the experience of Bergamo will contribute to a broader European perspective on tourism resilience, supporting the exchange of knowledge and the development of practical tools for destinations facing climate-related and natural hazards.
Follow RETES as we continue our journey through the project pilot areas.