The Lo Podall association was part of the Pallars Jussà delegation that took part in a benchmarking trip to the Italian destinations of Sanremo and Finale Ligure to gain first-hand insight into territorial development models based on cycling tourism and outdoor activities.
The trip, organised by the Pallars Jussà County Council with the support of SOC, took place from 7 to 9 October.
The delegation, made up of representatives from local councils, tourism businesses, accommodation providers, guiding companies, associations and regional technicians, took part in several technical sessions and site visits. These included meetings with institutional representatives and tourism operators, as well as with the Finale Outdoor Region Consortium, a European benchmark in mountain biking and active tourism development.
The aim of the trip was to learn about best practices in cycling tourism management, public-private cooperation and the creation of economic opportunities linked to sport and environmental stewardship. In this regard, Lo Podall was able to see first-hand how coordination between public administrations, businesses and local organisations is essential to ensure trail maintenance, visitor experience quality and the long-term sustainability of the project.
One of the main conclusions drawn from the experience is that leading destinations share a common approach: part of the revenue generated by tourism is reinvested directly into the conservation and improvement of the spaces that make these activities possible. Tourism businesses, accommodation providers, shops and service companies actively contribute to funding trail maintenance, making it possible to professionalise this work and maintain a high-quality trail network throughout the year.
For Lo Podall, this reality confirms a strategy that the association had already begun to implement, based on the principles of circular economy and shared responsibility among all stakeholders benefiting from the tourism product. The model observed in Finale Ligure strengthens Lo Podall’s commitment to advancing towards professional trail maintenance and highlights the need for greater involvement from both the private sector and public administrations in order to consolidate a sustainable long-term project in Pallars Jussà.
