Environmentally Friendly Tourism Can Be Possible in Sicily
Today, I got a comment under the Aeolian Islands video post that sounded to me a little bit out of nowhere. With all the respect that I always have for other people’s opinion, I just think that Sicily needs tourism badly. I consider myself an environmentalist. I am the first one to assert that Sicily has been devastated for centuries and Sicilians have little idea of how to respect the environment. I come from an area that has been destroyed by ghost factories built in the ’60s and none of them operates today. I never saw La Piana di Milazzo as described in the book ”L’Olivo e l’olivastro” by Vincenzo Consolo, I have always seen a refinery there. I am not against factories by principle. However, if they are built, they should follow strict regulations in order not to harm the surrounding environment and people.
What I am trying to say here is that a new type of environmentalism has taken off: the one that stops any idea a priori. Lately in Sicily, environmentalists have blocked the construction of the Rocco Forte Verdura Resort in Sciacca (Ag), the project of the Strait of Messina Bridge, etc… I understand the frustration of the Sicilian people who are always promised something that never happen, but they should understand that the answer cannot be “NO” a priori all the times.
Authorities need to build trust in the citizens and work together with environmental organizations. Projects should not be imposed from above and should involve people in a constructive way. Serious feasibility studies need to be conducted before starting to build anything and independent firms should be employed for these studies. It would be more responsible for any environmentalists to ask for such things rather than say “NO” to everything. Sicily needs jobs very badly. If regulated, tourism could bring long term benefits. It could also help to shape Sicily’s image in Italy and abroad by acting as an ambassador for the island and creating new solid partnerships for other industries.
To our cbass friend, I would answer: “have you ever heard of eco-tourism?”. Tourism can also be environmentally friendly. Today, the few inhabitants of the Aeolian Islands would emigrate somewhere else if they did not receive any tourists in the summer months.
Technorati Tags [ sicily tourism | sicily travel | sicily eco-tourism | aeolian islands tourism | rocco forte verdura resort in sciacca | strait of messina bridge | piana di milazzo | vincenzo consolo | olivo e l’olivastro ]
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August 29th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Well said! First of all, I see many people not respecting the environment, but only a view tourists take part of this. Let’s start to educate the Italians first, ’cause most tourists have far more respect for this beautiful Island then the local people (and Italian tourists) have! Actually, we can learn a lot from them, like picking up a can of soda thrown away by a local teenager!
August 31st, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Type your comment here.
I visited my birthplace last year in Nicosia and was appalled at the poor quality of air from all the vehicles crowding the tiny streets. My mother said it was so beautiful when she was young - you could walk (and not risk being plowed into by a vehicle) and more importantly, you could breathe. We didn’t dare keep windows open because the stench of the exhaust from trucks, buses, cars and motorcycles was overpowering. When I asked my cousin about this, he simply shrugged and said: “Siamo habituati”. We’re used to it. And dare I mention that many sicilians are heavy smokers too.
August 31st, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Today, on Beppe Grillo’s blog, I’ve read the following blog entry regarding new projects concerning the Aeolian Islands. Maybe now I understand a little bit better why “cbass” is so angry. Take a look. It might interest you:
http://www.beppegrillo.it/2007/08/cemento_sulle_e.html
August 31st, 2007 at 10:38 pm
@ Fanny:
that was the point of the post. Why do we have to stop any new construction work (even if seriously planned) when we cannot keep our small towns with no pollution? If well planned and regulated, new structures can help the local economy and tourism image as well.