Marino Finozzi, head of tourism for the Veneto region of Italy, has taken a philosophical view of losing out to Belfast for the Giro.
“I could say that it is a shame that Belfast won, but really, it is OK!”
Marino Finozzi, Assessore for Tourism for the Veneto region of Italy, isn’t bitter that his region lost the Grande Partenza to Ireland.
Instead, he saw it as an opportunity to attract Irish tourists to the region. Finozzi describes Veneto as “a most complete tourism offering with miles of golden beaches, the most beautiful mountains in the world, the spas, the city of art, Lake Garda amongst many others.”
The region has a long history with cycling, of which Finozzi is proud.
“It is homeland to the great, very great cyclists from the past and the present. I will mention a few and do not want to offend anyone, from World Champion Moreno Argentin, Damiano Cunego, Marzio Bruseghin, Marino Basso, Alessandro Ballan, Elia Viviani, Oscar Gatto. Not to mention Ottavio Bottechia, the first Italian to win the Tour de France in 1915.”
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“But Veneto is also the centre of companies in the cycle industry (Selle Italia, Campagnolo etc.). And this goes to show the great affinity and the great bond between the Veneto region and the bicycle.
"There are many patents that have revolutionized the world of bicycles that have originated in Veneto and this dynamic manner is what represents the best attributes of Veneto – ingenuity and love and respect for hard work.”
Veneto hosted three stages of this year’s Giro. Stefano Pirazzi won Stage 17 to Vittorio Veneto out of a breakaway that included Philip Deignan.
While Veneto is a well known location for cycling holidays, it also has many other charms away from the natural beauty and terrain.
Deignan then finished a terrific third on Stage 18, from Belluno to Rifugio Panarotta, which was eventually won by Julian Arredondo.
Stage 19, an uphill individual time-trial from Bassano del Grappa to Cima Grappa, was won by the eventual overall winner Nairo Quintana.
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“We experience great satisfaction in the culmination of days like these we experienced in Bassano del Grappa,” says Finozzi.
“Millions and millions of people getting to know and admire this area and all of its beauty thanks to a sporting event such as the Giro d’Italia, one of the world’s most popular events.”
“Veneto is the most loved Italian region by tourists around the world, with almost 16 million visitors a year and 63 million arrivals. One must understand the responsibility to maintain this level and reconfirm every year with improved statistics.”
“Here is what it takes to be the head of tourism of the most beloved Italian region in the world – the knowledge that you have a priceless heritage and at the same time, find new opportunities and exploit them to the fullest.”
Finozzi is particularly keen to promote an inclusive tourism policy in Veneto.
“A project that is very dear to me is aimed at all those people who have special needs, from physical disabilities and food intolerances through mothers with young children, to the elderly.”
“Since 2010, the Veneto region has been at the forefront of best practice in Europe related to tourism ‘for all’.
We are currently finishing the first real official overview of the existing situation, the findings of which we will then go on to integrate with a wide range of services designed to make the Veneto region completely accessible.”
Asked why Irish people should visit Veneto, Finozzi says: “We can also add attractions such as golf, cycling, mountain biking and other outdoor activities such as paragliding, Nordic skiing and much more.
"Our food and wine traditions are amongst the best in the world; an artistic and architectural heritage that is incomparable with more than 4,000 historic homes and villas located around the region of an especially high quality.”
“When someone chooses Veneto as a holiday destination, they do so not only for the charm of cities like Venice and Verona, but also because it is a region that can please many different tastes.”
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