Photo credit: areeprotettealpimarittime.it
Officially launched in December 2023, the RivierALP project is a bold initiative aiming to establish an outdoor tourist resort nestled between mountains and sea.
Its primary goal is to rejuvenate the Imperia and Cuneo provinces and the broader region in the Maritime Alps. The proposition witnessed the active involvement of civil authorities from Italy and France, with Mayor Yves Juhel expressing considerable enthusiasm.
Following the extraordinary atmospheric events that struck the region in the fall of 2020, exacerbating the vulnerability of an already delicate area, the cross-border territories of Italy and France opted to collaborate to craft an innovative “outdoor” resort, hoping to breathe fresh life into the existing cycling and trekking routes between the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian Sea, and to introduce new activities to stimulate the local economy along the way.
Photo credit: villaggiodeifiori.it
RivierALP is a product of collective synergy pursuing a dual purpose: on one hand, it aims to enhance resources through improvement and renewal of safety measures, while on the other hand it aspires to construct a storytelling territory. To achieve this, a shared imaginary space is to be created, where these liminal zones, affiliated with different nations, can assert their identity and convey it to visitors. The project includes innovations such as the activation of modern services to design an appealing and cutting-edge tourist experience.
Embracing a sustainability-focused approach, the initiative advocates for a vision of tourism that is enduring, responsible, and environmentally conscious. Focusing on delivering services capable of diversifying local commercial and industrial activities, and generating new employment opportunities. Building on past experiences, the project points to the future by reinforcing interconnections and exchanges across the two sides of the national border.
Photo credit: altaviadelsale.it
Nicolò Musso, mayor of Limone Piemonte, stated: “Limone is at the forefront of this compelling project. It’s not just about snow; we must shift our focus towards the sea, develop many kinds of tourism and revamp the socio-economic fabric of the region” so as to extend the appeal of an area rich in natural beauty throughout the whole year. RivierALP involves alongside Limone the municipalities of Sanremo and Tenda, the Province of Imperia, the Département des Alpes-Maritimes, the Ente di Gestione delle Aree Protette delle Alpi Marittime, the CARF, and finally, the Office de Tourisme Communautaire Menton Riviera & Merveilles. Its action plan spans thirty-six months and secures 80% funding from Feder (out of a total of 2,999,750.00 euros), with additional co-financing from the European program Interreg VI-A France-Italy Alcotra.
To sum up, Limone is poised to enhance its resources further through a proposal valuing sustainable territory. Leveraging the collaboration of public and private entities, the project aims to create an open-air tourist resort in a region that is uniquely positioned between France and Italy, between the Alps and the sea.
New frontiers of tourism are waiting to be discovered.