On 5 June 2020 at 17:00 on behalf of the project “NEST- Networking for Smart Tourism Development”, the partnership organized an online-event, available on the Facebook page of the project: (https://www.facebook.com/InterregNEST) to discuss on the impact of Covid-19 in the tourism economy of Interreg Italy-Albania-Montenegro Countries.

The Covid-19 health crisis is having a devastating impact on our lives as well as on the economies of countries. Tourism has been among the hardest hit of all major economic sectors. According to last news countries are going to open soon to some extent and the governments all over the world are trying to undertake measures for sector recovery.

This online talk aimed to bring together different representatives from Governments of three Interreg countries to discuss about the impact that the emergency has caused in their respective destinations and the measures and actions the Local and Regional governments are trying to undertake for the recovery phase. They discussed the current economic situation in the tourism sector and the measures undertaken to mitigate the problems of SMEs and tourists.

The “TALK” has been coordinated by the moderators, Valentina Ndou, Ph.D, Aggregate Professor at the department of engineering for innovation, University of Salento and Project manager of the NEST Project; Pasquale Del Vecchio, Ph.D, Aggregate Professor at the Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento and Project responsible of NEST project.

After the opening speeches of Ms. Annamaria Annichiarico, Director of Technological and Scientific Park TECNOPOLIS, partner of the project NEST, different representatives discussed on the topic of the debate. Ms. Ornela Cuci, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment of Albania, introduced the recovery plan for SMEs in Albania, followed by Mr. Paolo Foresio, Tourism Councilor of Lecce Municipality (IT) who announced many measures for the Apulian and Lecce SMEs. After the presentation of the communication plan of Lecce, Ms. Rosella Falcone, Tourism Councilor of Vieste Municipality, talked about her activities to overcome the COVID-19 crisis at municipality level.

The following interview was made to Francesco Cocco, Coordinator of European Territorial Cooperation office - Molise Region / Secretary General - Adriatic Ionian Euroregion, who analysed the EUSAIR policies for the period in respect to the COVID-19 new scenarios and the importance of the European Projects to produce funds and investments in the Interreg Countries. Ms. Ana Filipovic, representative of the Chamber of Economy, Montenegro introduced the state of art of policies and public measures in Montenegro and the SME’s expectations.

Following, Ms. Loredana Capone, Puglia Regional Councilor for Tourism and Creative Industries, announced an important measure of the Puglia Region to support entrepreneurs and local tourism and cultural organisations through Regional funds for 750 ml Euros and she promoted the important activities implemented by her Regional structure. At the end of the meeting, after questions and discussions, Mr. Nicola de Santis, project manager of NEST for EURelations EEIG, partner of the project, made the concluding remarks.

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Facebook  page: https://www.facebook.com/InterregNEST/

Project website: https://nest.italy-albania-montenegro.eu/