MILAZZO, Sicily -- Meeting the mayor of this dazzling, strategic Sicilian port town. Pippo Midili, we understand that on the present and future of Milazzo tourism, on the critical issues and problems but also on future opportunities, the Municipality is transparent and open to a frank analysis.

 Dott. Midili "outspokenly" talks to us about the delays in promotional activities which have not allowed the City to appear among the main tourist destinations in the country despite having a very important tourist offer driven by the sea, the history of its sites and a prominent artistic, cultural and architectural heritage.

  Milazzo is a seaside city with a historic centre behind it and hills and villages of great charm in the immediate vicinity. It’s a city rich in entrepreneurial stories linked to production and manufacturing which, in recent years, is planning a new development model also linked to the valorisation of beauty, tourism and culture.

 And this is also thanks to tourism entrepreneurs and hoteliers who are investing in the redevelopment and modernization of accommodation facilities; on the transformation of the many hotels into modern and qualified hotel residences.

 Milazzo is not simply a "port station to the Aeolian islands" as those who have simply read some novels from the last century on tourism and tourist economics write when rich families went to "bathe" in some bathing establishment in some Aeolian locality.

 Milazzo - its people think - is a complex city, full of enormous opportunities primarily linked to cultural tourism which determines the greatest number of tourist presences and which, in order to become a real "tourist destination" - capable of also corresponding to the future investments – needs: greater promotion, greater communication, more information and quality hospitality, In Italy but above all abroad, taking into account that the percentage of foreigners in the calculation of tourist presences is clearly growing

 Milazzo clearly can become an important driving force for obtaining great visibility not only for the 2024 season but also for the following years.

 Hence the mayor's observations -- this opportunity cannot be missed as has unfortunately happened in other cities that have launched cultural programs without leaving a mark.

 The mayor's urging is clear: «It is necessary to work to create a program of initiatives that highlight Milazzo and the Province at a national and international level by preparing an accurate marketing strategy to communicate and promote the destination and the prepared program. Of course: timing in tourism is important.”

 The programming must be defined well in advance through a social media marketing strategy, which involves the Region, the local municipalities and the various tourism experts. But for the people of Milazzo, tourism is not just linked to ad hoc programs.

 There is a theme of tourist construction, public works and infrastructure, the environment; of restaurants and bathing establishments; quality of the offer in accommodation facilities; of reception and transport, all issues to be taken into account.

 Milazzo, has to implement its "Itinerary of Beauty" - around its historic sites, the elegant village and its seafront which is the subject of attention and beautification plans by the Municipality.

 The current council is working to further strengthen its promotion and communication activity and is ready to play a leading role, pivoting on a three-dimensional strategy, with the Municipality and regional and national tourism institutions.