It is called Rotta sulle Marche (Route to the Marches) and is an innovative project created to create a network of marinas in the Marches, organizing an increasingly comprehensive and innovative offer for the yachtsman.
It is an innovative and ambitious operation that was born on the inspiration of the study entitled “Strategic policy document for the development of tourist ports in the Marche” SVEM of June 2023.
From there, through a path that then began in January 2024, all marinas and marinas in the Marche region – a region that in recent years has been very active in the launch of nautical tourism being also engaged as a leader in the promotion of the system ‘Italy as seen from the sea, Discover where I take you’, a national development project of the sector – have been involved in the project with the aim of creating a synergy for the development of boat tourism, this being considered a perfect vehicle for the knowledge of not only coastal locations, but of the whole of the near hinterland.
As for the Rotta sulle Marche project, after repeated comparison sessions it has now reached the stage of beginning implementation, including as many as five member ports: Marina Dorica in Ancona (which is the project’s promoter and leader), Marina dei Cesari in Fano, Porto della Rovere in Senigallia, Circolo Nautico Massaccesi in Numana and Marina di Porto San Giorgio.
According to the growth and development plan behind the operation, once the run-in phase has passed and the project’s tourism viability has been proven, the remaining regional landings will be able to join.
NAUTICAL TOURISM: FROM SEA TO LAND
On the other hand, the common purpose of the initiative is to promote and develop coastal tourism also as a starting hub to go and discover the territory and the many wonders enclosed in a region as varied as the Marches are.
And so it is precisely this idea of the tourist marina as an additional gateway to reach the main places of interest in the area that is also made explicit in the project’s logo, which represents the movement of nautical tourists who enter the lands of the Marches from the sea to discover or rediscover them.
The implementation of the initiative therefore consists of attracting and welcoming tourists by providing clear and simple information for berth booking; then giving a discount on the berth fee starting from the second port visited during the year; and again then proposing sustainable mobility services for travel from the port of call; in turn, moreover, each tourist marina will be able to develop its own tourist proposal involving the main attractions of the area and offering conventions and subsidized rates to visitors.
The prerequisites, including economic ones, are not lacking: from competitive mooring costs compared to the Croatian coast to the unique naturalistic, cultural and eno-gastronomic attractions present.
Added to which there is also the possibility of extending the operation so that it is also within the reach of smaller vessels, which until now have been limited to sailing the waters of their own ports or little beyond.
And it is precisely the marinas participating in the project that have committed to systematizing and jointly promoting new services for the nautical tourist, taken care of in detail, to lead to a future increase in the attendance of the region’s excellences.
This is also thanks to the Rotta sulle Marche card, which is the tool that allows boaters to benefit from offers and conventions on moorings, visits, rentals, and all other ancillary services that will be gradually implemented.
Finally, without forgetting that the guiding idea of Route to the Marches has already attracted the interest of the tourist port systems of the neighboring regions of Abruzzo and Emilia Romagna: their entry into the initiative would create a true “Adriatic corridor” of coastal tourism.
All information on the initiative is explained in detail on the websites: www.marinadorica.it and www.regatadelconero.it
