General Overview

Why? Currently, the territories involved in the project, experience a deficiency of adequate and pertinent hospitality structures, infrastructures and services in this sector (bike tourism) The ‘SIBIT’ project is the result of a serious evaluation of various elements that have been brought to the fore as a result of (a)an analysis on tourist influxes of Sicily and Malta (b) an analysis of the movement of tourism in Europe and outside the old continent (c)an analysis of the supply and demand pattern of the respective tourist patterns Need... The support of local development in respect of natural and rural environment through the enhancement of bike tourism as a sustainable form of tourist development

The Need... The support of local development in respect of natural and rural environment through the enhancement of bike tourism as a sustainable form of tourist development

Specific Objective... The submission of a bike tourism proposal in both Malta and Sicily with a view to integrate initiatives whilst taking advantage of synergies between the two tourist systems, namely that of Malta and Sicily The main objective of this project is to introduce and support joint and standardised infrastructural development and new operational activities in both Malta and Sicily within a natural and rural environment aimed at promoting bike tourism as a form of sustained tourist development.

Specific Objective... / cont. The Malta Tourism Authority, together with the Provinces of Agrigento, Ragusa, Caltanissetta, Trapani and Siracusa, the Polo Universitario and the Local Councils’ Association have pooled some of their resources and, following extensive discussions which took place in Malta and Sicily, it was agreed that EU funding will be sought to enable all parties involved to promote bike tourism.

Why MTA?

Why MTA’s involvement? The Malta Tourism Authority believed in the project due to its product development strategy its proposed marketing strategy which fell in line with declared tourism policy its focus on rural aspect of Malta and Gozo the non traditional way of exploring the rich cultural heritage of the Maltese islands its propensity to promote outdoor activity outside the normal tourist high season

SIBIT … Salient activities

Salient activities contemplated in the SIBIT project Creation of trans-border routes Modernisation of existing infrastructures Adaptation of selected areas within... a.various existing hotel grounds and tourist sites b.public places to provide pertinent services related to bike tourism (e.g. rental of bikes / maintenance kits / maps / other merchandise etc.) Promotion of events organised at a national and international level Production of promotional support material

Salient activities contemplated in the SIBIT project

SIBIT … Salient expected results

Salient expected results The development of a standard product (relating to bike tourism) to be promoted in both Malta and Sicily The creation of greater financial prosperity and employment through activities promoting the respect for the environment and greater awareness of the respective territories not only by Sicilians and Maltese but by a vaster audience coming from various countries travelling around Europe in general and neighbouring countries in particular Greater financial prosperity through increased commercial activity More employment opportunities through the packaging of a product (bike tourism) amongst a multitude of direct and indirect stakeholders, e.g tourist guides, hoteliers, restaurateurs, tourist agencies, tour operators, public entities, NGOs, artisans, bike rental agencies – which may increase in number as a result of more activity being generated - language schools’ operators and so forth

SIBIT … A combination of various collaborative forces

SIBIT... A project made possible through a myriad of collaborative forces Provincia di Agrigento Provincia di Ragusa Provincia di Siracusa Provincia di Trapani Provincia di Caltanisetta Malta Tourism Authority Local Councils’ Ass’n Polo Univ. Agrigento

SIBIT... A project made possible through a myriad of collaborative forces Dott Luca Burruano, the co-ordinating force representing our Sicilian partners, will be elaborating on what the latter are currently doing with particular emphasis on the routes selected covering the participating provinces’ territories Dott. Burruano will also be touching on the marketing / promotional plan which all partners will be implementing within a few months

SIBIT... A project made possible through a myriad of collaborative forces Right from the very start, the MTA roped in a team of local cycling experts / keen enthusiasts in order to, inter alia, identify the routes considered to be most suitable to enable the promoters of this project to reach the desired objectives Today Mr Andrew Galea will be providing pertinent information of work carried out to date relating to routes chosen following extensive research which also considered the pristine landscape very often not properly explored as well as the cultural trail

SIBIT... A project made possible through a myriad of collaborative forces The other local partner in this project, the Local Councils’ Association, is coordinating the signage and the pertinent infrastructural requirements aimed at (a)improving the infrastructural levels attained to date (b)ensuring safer road network for cyclists (c)providing a better informed platform Later on this morning Architect Frank Muscat will be providing us with the Local Councils’ Association’s work related to this project

SIBIT... A project made possible through a myriad of collaborative forces A general overview of the historic sites along the cycling routes in Malta and Gozo will be presented by Mr Martin Morana from the Malta Tourism Authority

SIBIT... A project made possible through a myriad of collaborative forces Following presentations, publication of expression of interests and a considerable amount of meetings, the MTA and its consultants have, to date, managed to get the endorsement to this project from nine hotels and tourist accommodation establishments... four (4) in Malta and five (5) in Gozo... MaltaSantana Hotel Seashells Resort at Suncrest Le Meridien St Julians Hotel & Spa Sunny Coast Resort & Spa GozoDowntown Hotel Calypso Hotel Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Djar ta’ Menzja The Hamlet

SIBIT... A project made possible through a myriad of collaborative forces Two of our cycling experts, Mr Andrew Galea and Mr Denis Debono, will be providing valuable information on ‘bike kits’ and ancillary services. By the end of this year designated areas will be equipped and ready for use

SIBIT … Way forward …

SIBIT... Way forward... We encourage travel agents, tour operators, front-liners in the tourist industry to co-operate with Sicilian handling agents and tourists in general in order to ensure the medium to long term success of this initiative The promoters of this project have already started to promote this initiative which could eventually turn out into an industry (Expobici – Fiera di Padova and Cycling Exhibition – Montecatini Terme)

SIBIT... Way forward... The EU funded project has to be brought to an end by January Yet, this should be regarded as the point of inception as far as the objectives’ commercialisation is concerned Scope for... Existing participants... already on board to explore new sources of activity / income generation New entrants (hotels, bike rental operators, tour operators, other ancillary service providers.... ) will, eventually, be endorsing the initiative

Ms Suzanne Cassar Dimech Mr Alfred Triganza SIBIT Enjoy the seminar... ‘Thank You!’