I have been working at ITKAM for almost 4 years and I mainly deal with European projects. Lately I have specialized in tourism and sustainability issues. Besides EU ECO-TANDEM Programme, I am implementing other projects for the promotion of sustainable tourism, digitalization of cultural and tourism industries, promotion of circular economy as well as vocational and educational training.
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Interview # 4 ITKAM
EU ECO-TANDEM PROGRAMME | 28 October, 2021
A few words about ITKAM….
ITKAM – Italian Chamber of Commerce for Germany is a bilateral non-profit organization, active in Germany since 1911.
Our main goal it to foster the internationalization of Italian companies in Germany and to promote economic relations between the two countries.
We have three offices in Germany: the headquarters in Frankfurt and offices in Berlin and Leipzig. In addition, we have representative offices in other cities in Germany, Italy and Austria. Our network consists of more than 400 member businesses and institutions. We provide more than 500 companies with consultancy services every year.
We have been active in the field of European projects for several years. We have experience with the COSME, Erasmus+ and Interreg programs. Our focus is on tourism, sustainability, digitalization and vocational training.
Q1 Tell us something about yourself and your role in the organization
I have been working for ITKAM since 2008, where I am Chief Business Development Officer. I support the development and the growth of businesses by identifying new opportunities, reaching out to potential prospects and building long-term relationships with stakeholders from industry and institutions mostly in Germany and Italy. In the recent years, I have been implementing more than 15 EU projects about sustainability, tourism, entrepreneurship, mechatronics and Industry 4.0
Q2: In which ways is your organisation committed to sustainability? Which are your personal motivations to join the team of EU ECO-TANDEM?
Sustainability has been one of our focus in recent years. We are implementing and have implemented several projects to promote the ecological transition of companies, not only in the tourism sector.
For example our Interreg Alpine Space project AlpBioEco, promoting the bioeconomy in the Alpine space. In the course of the project, we used waste from walnuts, apples and herbs and turned it into eco-innovative products –e.g. by developing cosmetics based on apple pomace with a local farmer. The European Commission has recognised the innovative potential of the project, selecting us as a finalist for the RegioStars Awards 2021.
We decided to join the EU ECO-TANDEM team because we strongly believe in a global need to promote sustainable tourism, as ITKAM but also as individuals.
In our private lives, we try to pay attention to the aspect of environmental sustainability: choosing the train instead of the plane or using the bicycle instead of the car for example.
Q3: Why do you think sustainability represents a big potential for the tourism industry?
The ecological transition will be a must for tourism companies in the near future. Consumers of tourism offerings, especially Millennials and the younger generation, are much more aware of the ecological impact of their holidays. This is even truer after the Covid-19 pandemic. If a tourism company wants to remain competitive it must make environmental awareness an integral part of its business model.
Q4: Why should a tourism SME join the EU ECO-TANDEM programme?
EU ECO-TANDEM is aimed at all those tourism companies that are interested in the ecological transition, but do not know where to start.
The project represents a unique opportunity for tourism SMEs: by collaborating with start-ups and experts from our network, companies can introduce sustainable innovations into their business model. For startups on the other hand, the programme is useful because SMEs already have a network of customers, the infrastructure and a strong knowledge of the market.
Finally, the voucher awarded to the winning companies is certainly a good initial help to implement a sustainable tourism pilot project!
Q5: Describe the EU ECO-TANDEM programme in three words.
Cooperation. Sustainability. Innovation
Q6: A last question! Which is your favourite type of sustainable vacation?
Ronny: Cycling, camping and travelling by train
Sonia: Travelling by train, avoiding mass tourism destinations, living like the locals.
THE EU ECO-TANDEM PROGRAMME
info@eu-ecotandem.eu
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