Presentation of a european project at the BIT 2022 in Milan

On the occasion of the BIT - International Tourism Exchange 2022 in Milan, Professor Alain Imboden and researcher Cristina Saviozzi from the Institute of Tourism of the HES-SO Valais-Wallis, in collaboration with the ATL Novara, presented the European project "In bici a pelo d'acqua".

A report on cycle tourism, as well as the results of the questionnaire sent to the tourist destinations along the project itinerary, were presented at the press conference on April 10, which was broadcasted live. 

The data collected will make it possible to study the needs of cross-border cycle tourists and to propose services and offers that meet their expectations, thus creating a concrete opportunity for the development of the cycle tourism offer. This project, financed by funds from the Interreg Italy-Switzerland program, promotes the sharing and development of cycle tourism routes in the cross-border area between Valais and the province of Novara. The routes have water as a common denominator, with large rivers such as the Rhone and the Ticino, lakes such as those of Mergozzo and Orta, and a dense network of irrigation canals that give life to rice fields. The ambition is to create a cycling itinerary accessible to a public that is increasingly turning to responsible tourism in order to promote the sustainable development of the territory and of the tourism companies located there.

The Institute of Tourism is the Swiss leader of the project and has as partners the ADOT Valais Wallis, RWO-AG and Valais-Wallis Promotion. The Italian lead partner is the Tourist Agency of Novara ATL and its partners are the Piedmont Region, the Province of Novara, the Chamber of Commerce of Novara, the Municipality of Novara, the Ente di Gestione delle Aree Protette del Ticino e del Lago Maggiore and the Distretto Turistico dei Laghi.
Link to the project website:

From May 9, 2022, a series of meetings (Cicloatelier) will be organized with service providers (hotels, restaurants, tour guides, etc.) to foster cooperation and new synergies with the aim of increasing the economic impact of this growing tourism sector.