ROME (ITALPRESS) – An engine for the enhancement of the territory and a reason for social cohesion. Pro Loco in Italy, more than 6,400 of which are represented by UNPLI, are an essential reference point for the tourism promotion of territories, as well as for the cultural and social growth of the country. Data from the Censis report, produced in collaboration with UNPLI and presented at the Nassiriya Room of the Senate of the Republic in the morning on the activities of Pro Loco in Italy in 2024, speak clearly.
75.1 percent of the Italian population lives in municipalities that host at least one Pro Loco, associations considered indispensable lifeblood, especially in small towns. Testifying to the value within society is the number regarding the frequency with which Italians hear about Pro Loco: it is 62.6 percent of residents in municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants, 34.2 percent, on the other hand, in towns between 100,000 and 500,000 inhabitants. In 2023, almost 60 percent of Italians participated in at least one event organized by the Pro Loco, while 43.5 percent experienced one of these events during a leisure trip, and 97.9 percent of Pro Loco organized events in 2023.
An important, capillary and continuous work (37.5 percent of the Pro Loco say they never stop their activities) carried out not without problems. According to the study, the biggest challenges concern the difficulty in finding funding (in 59.3 percent of cases), coping with bureaucratic paperwork (in 49.9 percent of cases), finding volunteers (in 32.4 percent) but also having to manage new means of communication to promote themselves and make themselves known (2 percent) and problems related to calamitous events (1.5 percent).
A machine that finds the support of the UNPLI (Unione Nazionale Pro Loco d’Italia) fundamental to functioning. In fact, 89.1 percent of Italian pro loco organizations rate the services offered by UNPLI as very or fairly useful, both in terms of training and administrative support, with a view to strengthening the network and organizational capacities of local authorities.
“We are very proud of the data that represent in an extraordinary way the great vitality of our Pro Loco and the great role they play in the social fabric, both in tourism and culture, promoting deseasonalization and moving the local economy with an intense activity carried out during all periods of the year,” said UNPLI President Antonino La Spina. “97.9 percent of the Pro Loco organized events during the year and gave more than 60 percent of Italians the opportunity to participate in an event they promoted. We are very pleased that more than 89.1 percent of Pro Loco evaluate the work of UNPLI as instrumental in supporting their activities.”
In an interview with Italpress, La Spina also stressed “the value of Pro Loco for social cohesion, against depopulation and in aid of small towns. The great work that is done through our volunteers holds communities together and generates different potentials,” first and foremost “from the tourism point of view. Our Pro Loco 98 percent work all year round and manage to boost the seasonal adjustment of tourism.”
“Sixty percent of the population has participated in an event of our Pro Locos, of these 43 percent were tourists: this obviously supports the tourism offer in small towns in tourist areas, but especially in inland areas” where “it generates a very strong economic impact, conveying about 88-90 million visitors. These data give us an awareness” of how important “the work done in the territories and the commitment of volunteers is to make this a reality,” he explained.
Also for the promotion of agribusiness, the Pro Loco represent “a very strong driving force, with more than 20,000 festivals of which many are quality festivals, thanks to the recognition we have given them with our brand.” In this way, “we enhance the value of the typical local product, stimulate communities to market and sell it, and also to create moments of valorization of the territory’s product,” La Spina added.
The Pro Loco – in addition to playing a fundamental role in the promotion and enhancement of Italy’s tourism, cultural and food and wine offerings, proposing attractive events throughout the year with a view also to boosting seasonal adjustment – are fundamental in animating communities and fostering an increasingly synergistic and vital social context.
“In the CENSIS report Le Pro Loco: engine of territorial enhancement and social cohesion, there are very interesting study elements. 90% of Italians recognize the central role of the Pro Loco in promoting the territory and, again, 60% of citizens in 2023 participated, at least once, in a Pro Loco event. These are eloquent numbers. Pro Loco, often, in the territories, become the operational arm of the administrations in the creation of events for the promotion and enhancement of local culture. All this would not be possible today if there were not the commitment, gratuitousness and love for their territory on the part of the volunteers, whom I like to call the sentinels of our traditions. I hope that this study will be an impetus for the entire Parliament for the final sprint needed to cross the finish line of the bill, which is being discussed today in the First Committee. Italy and Italians recognize the role of Pro Loco volunteers. Now it is up to us in Parliament to do the same,” commented Senator Antonio De Poli.
“Pro Loco are a genuine engine of enhancement and social cohesion. Thanks to their commitment, traditions are preserved and communities strengthen their sense of belonging. The data in the report presented today confirm their extraordinary vitality, a sign of widespread and tireless participation. UNPLI is also close to young people and we, as a government, in turn stand by them, offering young people opportunities for healthy growth, encouraging listening and investing in concrete projects for social inclusion,” said Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policies, Maria Teresa Bellucci.
“The data presented today,” says Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Luigi D’Eramo, “tell of how important the activities of Pro Loco are in the promotion and enhancement of territories, especially for communities in small municipalities, and also contribute to social cohesion. A work that promotes local culture and tourism offerings, enhancing a strong wine and food heritage of many typical and culinary traditions.”
“The Pro Loco represent a practical application of the principle of subsidiarity enshrined in the Constitution and play an essential function in countering depopulation, keeping small communities alive and enhancing local culture, traditions and wealth,” said Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Finance Lucia Albano. “The volunteer system on which the Pro Loco of Italy are based is not only the heart and soul of many territories, but also the economic engine. The commitment of the many volunteers makes a decisive contribution to strengthening the social and cultural fabric of our nation and to the development of our extraordinary collective heritage. In this sense, the task that the working group on the social economy-which I set up at the Mef-is carrying out with the aim of developing a national Action Plan to respond to the specific needs of the sector, foster its sustainability and growth, as well as recognize its important contribution and work is fundamental.”
“With the Pro loco we are dealing with a reality that represents a true collective heritage, rooted in the territories, active in the inland areas of Italy, also present in emergency situations, due to calamitous events, alongside the civil protection,” explains the head of the Economy, Labor and Territory Area of Censis, Andrea Toma. They have shown a great ability to regenerate themselves and to be testimonials of the quality of good Italian living, also attracting young people to their activities: the data from the survey on the Italian population according to which 66 percent of young people between 18 and 34 years old say they have recently participated in at least one Pro Loco event is very important, while 15.2 percent of young people carry out or have already carried out volunteer work at a Pro Loco.”
– Italpress Photo –
(ITALPRESS).
