Among the organizations that participated in the creation of CarTES are the Associazione Italiana Turismo Enogastronomico, the Associazione Nazionale Città del Vino, the Associazione Nazionale Città dell'Olio, the Federazione Italiana delle Strade del Vino, dell'Olio e dei Sapori, Terranostra-Coldiretti, Iter Vitis, Unpli - Unione delle pro loco italiane, and the Associazione Consulta Nazionale dei Distretti del Cibo, together with technical partners PG&W and Acta - Sensi Contemporanei. The Charter will be communicated through platforms such as Divinea, Foody and Winedering, and will be distributed free of charge by those involved.
Iter Vitis will be responsible for internationalizing the project, disseminating CarTES in the 24 countries that are part of the Cultural Itinerary of the Council of Europe. This document will be translated into several languages and will be presented in Moldova on October 18, during the 15th anniversary assembly of the Cultural Route. As pilot areas, Greece, Erzegovina and Moldova have already adopted the model, and the project is expected to expand to more countries.
A sustainable model for tourism
Roberta Garibaldi, president of the Associazione Italiana Turismo Enogastronomico, explained that CarTES is a key step towards sustainability in food and wine tourism: “This charter not only seeks to reduce environmental impact, but also promotes respect for local cultures and communities. According to our studies, 50% of tourists are looking for sustainable experiences, so this document is an essential guide for them”.
Dominga Cotarella, president of Terranostra, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Sustainability is the theme that unites all the actors of food and wine tourism, and CarTES is a tool to educate and promote responsible habits”.
For his part, Angelo Radica, president of Città del Vino, highlighted the commitment of Italian municipalities in promoting sustainable tourism linked to wine and gastronomy, while Michele Sonnessa, president of Città dell'Olio, underlined the efforts of the more than 500 cities that are part of the association to preserve Italy's olive-growing heritage.
Communication and expansion campaign
The project's communication strategy is based on the official website www.turistaenogastronomicosostenibile.it, as well as on the social networks Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. The multimedia campaign will be coordinated by PG&W, and all stakeholders will offer visibility to the project through their own platforms.
The real strength of CarTES lies in its collaborative approach, with a coordinated media network that significantly increases its visibility and reach. This initiative responds to the growing demand for sustainable practices in tourism and marks a first step in a broader process to create global awareness of responsible tourism.
In spring 2025, a second phase of the project will be launched with a contest that will reward tourists who adopt sustainable behaviors, accompanied by the implementation of a tool for cities and businesses to assess their level of sustainability and select appropriate certifications.
CarTES represents an innovative model for food and wine tourism, promoting not only respect for the environment, but also direct support for local communities and the dissemination of good sustainable practices.
