At the Palacrociere di Savona, the annual conference of the Consorzio Obiettivo Spiagge (Consortium Objective Beaches) took place, bringing together nearly 400 beach establishments throughout Liguria. This event, aimed at industry operators, reviewed the 2024 season and looked ahead to 2025. Beach operators are poised to enhance their offerings and tackle new challenges.
Enrico Schiappapietra, president of the Consortium, expressed satisfaction with the team of consultants supporting the beach system: “We aim to be prepared for any eventuality.” He emphasized the tourism importance of these businesses for the region, the involvement of entrepreneurial families and workers, and the economic impact. According to him, the future of the beach system is intertwined with Liguria’s tourism offerings in the coming years.
The day was structured in three phases. The morning focused on technical insights into the current regulations, prospects related to concessions, green policies, and beach and sea safety. Discussions centered around the ecological transition to make future establishments more sustainable through energy communities and new technologies. The Consortium’s lawyers clarified doubts about decree law 131 concerning state concessions. Strategies were assessed to enhance beach businesses, making them safer and more accessible. Representatives from associations for the blind and visually impaired and “Rp Liguria Odv” were also present.
During the lunch break, the Palacrociere hosted 30 partner companies of the Consortium with exhibition stands, offering a range of products for the upcoming season: equipment, technical supplies, and local agri-food products, highlighting the significance of zero-kilometre tourism.
In the afternoon, the presentation of the team of technicians and consultants took place, ready to support members. The 2024 activities and strategies for 2025 were analysed. Additionally, a new Consortium application was introduced to provide beach operators with information directly on their phones.
The Consorzio Obiettivo Spiagge was established on March 28, 2011, through the initiative of the leaders of the marine bath associations in the province of Savona. Today, it includes nearly 400 registered establishments in Liguria, with growing numbers that enable operators to tackle challenges together. In a challenging period for the sector, the project aims to share objectives and strategies. The Consortium offers training, consultancy, assistance with administrative procedures, and coordination of public utility projects. The goal is to create a strong group capable of supporting significant initiatives for the category and encouraging businesses to respond to new tourism trends. The Consortium serves as a tool to identify opportunities for growth and synergies to enhance the offering and quality of services.
Interventions from the Liguria Region
The territorial importance of the Consortium lies in its ability to network. A commitment that gives voice to the entrepreneurs who, with great sacrifices, have transformed the coastline into an opportunity for development and employment. Among the challenges facing the sector is that of renewable energy, a strategic asset that the Liguria Region is ready to support for the creation of Renewable Energy Communities (REC). This is an important tool that allows the coastal operators to contribute to the sustainability of the Italian region, a leader in Blue Flags.
This was stated by the regional Energy assessor, Paolo Ripamonti, during the annual conference of the Consortium ‘Objective Beaches’, where the activities carried out and the programme for 2025 were outlined.
The regional assessor for Maritime State Property and Coordinator of the Table of the Conference of Regions and Autonomous Provinces in the subject, Marco Scajola, speaking in a video message, added: “The work carried out by the Consortium ‘Objective Beaches’ is valuable and important for the entire sector. A sector that is still searching for certainty. As the Liguria Region, we will continue to work alongside businesses to protect the many workers and the investments made over the years in a sector that is essential for the territory and for its present and future development”.
