On October 10, as part of the “European Week of Regions and Cities 2024 – EURegionsWeek close to you” organized by the European Commission, a dedicated webinar focused on the “Borgo Paradiso: Sustainable, Shared, and Inclusive Development” project took place. This initiative, promoted by the International Academic Research Center (UNICART) with Consulmarc Sviluppo S.r.l. as an external organizer, centered on sustainable tourism and the urban and social redevelopment of “Borgo Veddo.”
Borgo Veddo is a small, historic village on Lake Maggiore, situated between Ticino (Switzerland) and Varese Province (Italy). Through the “Borgo Paradiso” project, the municipality of “Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca”, the Province of Varese, and private owners have launched an initiative to enhance the area, focusing on both urban and social recovery within the lake and pre-alpine cross-border context with Ticino. Additionally, it aims to address depopulation, which has led to a decrease in residents, particularly young people, in recent years.
The webinar featured high-profile speakers who discussed themes related to the social sustainability of tourism, promoting local products as a driver for regional development, and sustainable building practices. The event included a comparison between two regions—Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore—that, despite their differences, face similar challenges, particularly concerning development policies in both areas. There was a focus on the public and private partnerships essential for planning activities that support growth and cohesion.
Dr. Paolo Snidero, expert in community policies and representative of UNICART Brussels, moderated the presentations. He emphasized the significant rise of sustainable tourism as a leading trend in the global tourism sector: “This transformation is fueled by increasing environmental and social awareness among travelers, who are more frequently choosing destinations and experiences that align with ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) criteria,” said Dr. Snidero. He further explained that the Borgo Paradiso project aims to restore and revitalize abandoned historic properties in the municipality of Maccagno/Veddo. “The project’s objective goes beyond simply restoring real estate; it seeks to create a system capable of planning and coordinating tourism activities by involving local and provincial public administrations along with stakeholders in the local economic production system,” he added. Financial institutions will also play a role, contributing to the region’s growth in alignment with Green Revolution policies.
Further good news came for the municipality of “Maccagno con Pino e Veddasca” by “Regione Lombardia” who celebrated for its exceptional cultural and landscape heritage success of a “Maccagno Imperiale” since on November 1 was selected the most beautiful site in the network “I Borghi più belli di Italia”
Borgo Paradiso Project
The project benefits from sustainable finance for its implementation, and its advisor, Consulmarc Sviluppo S.r.l., integrated “blended finance” criteria into the financial structure, as recommended by the European Commission (June 27, 2023, No. 1425).
Are you an investor? Contact us for more information and to receive the project sheet.”
