Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) ALFRED TRIGANZA PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR 18 OCTOBER 2011

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) GENERAL OVERVIEW 2

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) 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) 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 3

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) 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 4

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) ACTIVITIES 5

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) Creation of trans-border routes Modernisation of existing infrastructures Adaptation of selected areas within various existing hotel grounds and tourist sites / public places to provide pertinent services related to bike tourism (rental of bikes / maintenance kits / maps / other merchandise etc.) Promotion of events organised at a national and international level Production of promotional support material 6

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) EXPECTED RESULT 7

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) 1.The development of a standard product (relating to bike tourism) to be promoted in both Malta and Sicily 2.The creation of greater financial prosperity and employment through activities promoting the respect for the environment and greater awareness of the respective territories not by Sicilians and Maltese but by a vaster audience coming from various countries travelling around Europe in general and neighbouring countries in particular 8

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) 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 9

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) BUDGET 10

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) ESTIMATED PROJECT BUDGET € 1,101,240 ESTIMATED BUDGET (LOCAL PARTICIPATION) € 91,770 (MTA) € 91,770 (LCA) 11

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) PARTICIPATION 12

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) PROVINCIA DI AGRIGENTO(31,25%) PROVINCIA DI RAGUSA(12.50%) PROVINCIA DI SIRACUSA(12.50%) PROVINCIA DI TRAPANI(12.50%) PROVINCIA DI CALTANISETTA(12.50%) MALTA TOURISM AUTHORITY( 8.33%) LOCAL COUNCILS’ ASS’N( 8.33%) POLO UNIV. AGRIGENTO( 2.09%) 13

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) WHAT PROMPTED THE ‘SIBIT’ IDEA? 14

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) The ‘SIBIT’ project is the result of a serious evaluation of various elements that have been brought to the fore as a result of  - an analysis on tourist influxes of Sicily and Malta  - an analysis of the movement of tourism in Europe and outside the old continent  - an analysis of the supply and demand pattern of the respective tourist patterns 15

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) The point of inception has been based on the presumption that... there exists no special offering (in Malta and Sicily) on bike tourism albeit there are the conditions for this segment to flourish 16

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) The idea has also focused on the value added as a result of this new opportunity which places particular emphasis on  - The environment  - A healthy lifestyle  - Seasonal mitigation factors 17

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) WHAT IS THE ‘MODUS OPERANDI’ OF THE ‘SIBIT’ PROJECT? 18

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) This project will seek to address the strengths and the weaknesses of the areas of intervention in order to enable the traceability of a series of other interventions such as the establishment of a Quality standard guideline / Charter for the segment (bike tourism) 19

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) This will be followed by the identification of (a) - Key referral indicators and (a) - Criteria for the building / construction of areas adequate for bike tourism 20

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) A SEMINAR To serve as a launch for this project will be held in order to create the pertinent awareness amongst all possible interested stakeholders (e.g. Hotel operators, agro-tourism operators, NGOs, and so forth). 21

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) KEY PERSONNEL Working (or somehow involved) with these interested parties will be given substantial briefing sessions to ensure ownership and promotion of the said concept at national, regional and international level 22

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) Identification of locations (Including permits required from various general and local administrative bodies) + Adequate mapping procedures 23

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) Selection of the pertinent structures which will be supplied with biking equipment to ensure...  - Conformity with specific standards  - Overall accessibility  - A general holistic service to the biking community 24

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) Selection of stakeholders + Structural modifications (where necessary) to previously selected locations will be carried out in order to enable the promoters to ensure the best degree of safety in these areas 25

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) Communication plan (multi-lingual) + Groups of bike tourist guides will be trained (possible tourist guide exchange programme/s) 26

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) An Intensive marketing (product / service awareness) campaign presented to the general public via an international event during which the web site will also be launched 27

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) Project launched Trend set (similar to ‘diving tourism’ trend) 28

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) Concluding seminar ‘Post mortem’ Way forward to be designed + Lessons learnt + Room for improvement Future successes 29

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) Termination of project... Future guidelines Involvement of suitable entities (Long term agreements) 30

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) GENERAL OBJECTIVES (RESULTS) 31

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) INDICATORS  Increase in physical presence within the structures located in respective countries (bike hotels, boutique hotels, restaurants, cultural events, historical sites, entertainment areas, etc.)  Increase in tourist expenditure (per capita)  Increase in number of tourist packages sold Increase in bike rentals (a potential business boom for Malta) 32

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) VERIFICATION POSSIBILITIES (OF INDICATORS)  - NSO  - Osservazione sul turismo delle isole europee – OTIE  - Sectoral studies  - MTA Statistics 33

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES (RESULTS) 34

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) INDICATORS (1)  Number of bike tracks included in the project  Presence in the media (number of published articles, number of TV and radio adverts, testimonials, billboards, etc.)  Number of structures pegged with the project (e.g. Bike hotels, boutique hotels, etc.) 35

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) INDICATORS (2)  Number of guided tours within the territories  New employment generated (e.g. Bike tourist guides)  A new culture of low cost, environmentally conscious, tourism in Malta 36

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) VERIFICATION POSSIBILITIES (OF INDICATORS)  The dissemination level of the offering permeated through national and international thematic exhibitions  Acceptance of the offering by economic operators 37

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) OVERALL EXPECTED RESULTS (1)  Dissemination at national and international level of the packaged product  Infrastructural development (local and arterial)  Refurbishment of boutique or ‘Bike-Agri’ hotels in core villages 38

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) OVERALL EXPECTED RESULTS (2)  Additional influx of potential non interested parties accompanying keen bike tourists  Cascading of tourism influx generated through the twinned promotional arrangement with Sicily which, under normal circumstances, would not have proceeded to Malta  Ripple effect through other segments, e.g. Agro-tourism 39

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) OVERALL EXPECTED RESULTS (3)  Contribution towards the overall GDP figures  Modernisation programme in recreational sites and theme parks  Improved product offering among family oriented holiday packages 40

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) OVERALL EXPECTED RESULTS (4)  Improved product offering among corporate business operators in search of team building scenarios in an environment away from the highly cold temperatures in the north  More professional implementation of international road cycling standards  A more sophisticated mapping exercise covering many areas not normally so popular with tour operators 41

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) OVERALL EXPECTED RESULTS (5)  Competitor parity with all other EU members in so far as the promotion of bike tourism is concerned in line with internationally acclaimed policy supporting eco tourism  Greater awareness amongst bike enthusiasts interested in mixing holidays with competitive road racing 42

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) VERIFICATION POSSIBILITIES (OF INDICATORS)  Publicity campaigns in international media (print, web, promotional videos, selected trade fair participation)  Number of actions referred to above  43

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Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) MALTA STANDS TO GAIN MUCH MORE THAN IT WOULD HAVE EVER BEEN THE CASE HAD SICILY EMBARKED ON A SIMILAR INITIATIVE WITH SARDINIA Sicily and Malta will be providing one another with an influx of a new breed of tourism which, taken in isolation, especially Malta, would not have been able to attract. 45

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) SIBIT... (1) A FAIRLY NOVEL WAY FOR A TOURIST TO EXPLORE THE MALTESE ISLANDS An overall ongoing improvement in Malta’s road network (arterial and local) especially as a result of specifically allocated EU funding schemes 46

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) SIBIT... (2) A FAIRLY NOVEL WAY FOR A TOURIST TO EXPLORE THE MALTESE ISLANDS A general shift over the last few years in the appreciation of authentic rural Maltese ambience 47

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) SIBIT... (3) A FAIRLY NOVEL WAY FOR A TOURIST TO EXPLORE THE MALTESE ISLANDS A disposition to include new hospitality concepts such as boutique hotels and agro tourism 48

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) SIBIT... (4) A FAIRLY NOVEL WAY FOR A TOURIST TO EXPLORE THE MALTESE ISLANDS A propensity of Maltese producers to live up to competitive norms and enhance overall product image 49

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) SIBIT... (5) A FAIRLY NOVEL WAY FOR A TOURIST TO EXPLORE THE MALTESE ISLANDS The MTA’s overall push - as supported by its own policy – towards the lasting creation of niches thus encouraging non traditional tourists to visit the islands (especially in the lean tourist period) in search of other activities rather than the usual sand, sea and sunshine 50

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) SIBIT... (6) A FAIRLY NOVEL WAY FOR A TOURIST TO EXPLORE THE MALTESE ISLANDS Complete adherence to the Lisbon treaty parameters especially those relating to economic growth and employment 51

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) THE MALTESE ISLANDS CAN BECOME A CYCLIST’S ‘HAVEN’ BE THESE...  Part of an entire family which could have easily opted for some other destination rather than Malta  Part of a business organisation forming part of a team building exercise which group could have, otherwise, stayed in Sicily as the furthest point envisaged in the organisation’s travel plan / itinerary Part of a sport team competing in the Maltese islands  Part of an NGO 52

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Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) MOST SALIENT OUTPUT INDICATORS (AS INDICATED IN SECTION 57) DIRECTLY HAVING SOME DEGREE OF IMPLICATION ON THE PROJECT WITHIN THE NATIONAL CONTEXT... 2 (Two) modernisation initiatives of existing structures 9 (nine) new establishments aimed at supporting bike tourism 20% increase in qualified personnel specialising in bike tourism aided by 1 (one) formation course in bike tourism guidance 1 (one) participation at the BIT Fair in Milan 54

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) MOST SALIENT OUTPUT INDICATORS (AS INDICATED IN SECTION 57) DIRECTLY HAVING SOME DEGREE OF IMPLICATION ON THE PROJECT WITHIN THE NATIONAL CONTEXT... Ongoing presence in printed promotional material distributed at national and international level 1 (one) Sicily – Malta cycling marathon 1 (one) participation on a prominent Italian TV channel programme 1 (one) website dedicated to the project 55

Sustainable Inter-Regional Bike Tourism (SIBIT) Thank you 56