Business, culture, traditions and local products connecting the Dolomites to Matera's Sassi, the iconic settlements carved into rock listed among Unesco's World Heritage Sites, are factors that have led industrial employers' confederation Confindustria Belluno Dolomiti and Confindustria Basilicata to join forces to fight depopulation in mountain areas and create economic growth.
Promoting the local economy, together with other institutions, and boosting local services are part of the goals approved Saturday in Matera by the presidents of Confindustria Belluno Dolomiti, Lorraine Berton, and Confindustria Basilicata, Pasquale Lorusso, at a press conference.
The conference was also attended by the president of hoteliers' federation Federalberghi Basilicata, Francesco Garofalo, and the vice president of the Provincia of Belluno, Serenella Bogana, as part of Confindustria's initiative ''Matera 2019: the open future of Italian companies''.
''Matera sets the example in terms of what it was able to accomplish as European capital of culture 2019, moving various economic sectors, starting with tourism'', said Lorraine Berton.
''A Unesco world heritage city, with that feel of the Sassi district that is similar to the rocks of our Domites'', said Berton of Matera's stone houses carved out of the caves and cliffs.
''They are an example of beauty of our internal areas, which need investments, projects and infrastructures to grow and avoid depopulation''.
Lorraine Berton continued by speaking about delays in the construction of an alternative road connecting Longarone in Veneto, which could bring more tourists visiting Venice.
Lorusso then illustrated the goals of Matera's experience and ''everyone's work'' to jointly reach the objective.
''We are eyeing with attention the adhesion to Confindustria's network for the mountains and the Winter Olympics event is yet another opportunity to highlight the problems and needs of internal areas, which also concern our Basilicata'' region, said Lorusso.
''However, it is necessary to work together to get results locally, as happened for Matera 2019''.
Garofalo, who stressed the role played by private-sector partners for Matera 2019, urged legislators to work ''on a reform of Enit (the Italian national tourism agency) in order to prevent the country presenting a divided front on the vacation market''.
Bogana discussed the project of a cultural district and the need to promote investments in areas inland as part of the program ahead of the Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The event organized by Confindustria, which was held at the Ipogei in Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi, included the promotion of ''Dmo Dolomiti'' with itineraries focusing on environmental and cultural tourism with the 2021 Alpine World Ski Championship sand the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The itineraries are appreciated by excursionists as well as cyclists.

In collaboration with:
Provincia di Belluno e Consorzio DMO Dolomiti