ITALIAN FAMILY HOSPITALITY PROJECT

Italian Family Hospitality, in the spirit of art. 9 of the Constitution of the Italian Republic, aims to be a community of people who love Italian culture and lifestyle in all its aspects (language, art, music, gastronomy, fashion, nature, economy), favoring the encounter between people interested in learning the Italian language, coming from abroad, and a family tourist reception network (families, agritourisms, B&Bs).

The project makes it possible to exploit the enormous potential of family-type tourist hospitality in Italy through the language travel channel. Family hospitality represents an alternative to other types of stay that focuses on families and their ability to open up to the richness of different cultures and human relationships, a source not only of knowledge, but also of sincere friendships.

In an international context that often sees relationships between peoples and between people marked by fears, conflicts, tensions, scams and deceptions, walls and divisions, we want to invest in TRUST: trust in guests, in their sensitivity, in their desire to know, trust in the hosts who will make available the best they can offer to make their stay as interesting and pleasant as possible in an atmosphere of sharing and hospitality. Investing in trust, so that it becomes a seed to create relationships of healthy friendship and peaceful coexistence respectful of diversity.

This project is the result of two years of work (by a volunteer team) in which the contents were gradually identified and defined after a careful analysis of the international context in reference to the interest in the Italian language, surveys were launched in various foreign countries, an analysis and comparison with any similar initiatives was carried out, tour operators distributed throughout the country were involved, the operating procedures were established.
In the meantime, a network of "friends" of Italian Family Hospitality has been established, with interlocutors from numerous foreign countries and various host structures that we have asked to sign the ad hoc Hospitality Quality Charter drawn up. We now need to establish synergies, collaborations, partnerships in order to move from the planning phase to the operational one, for which we have already taken action.

The Republic promotes the development of culture and scientific and technical research. It protects the landscape and the historical and artistic heritage of the nation.

According to the definition of the OMT ("World Tourism Organization"), a United Nations agency, "cultural tourism represents all those movements of people motivated by cultural purposes such as study holidays, participation in live shows, festivals, cultural events, visits to archaeological sites and monuments, pilgrimages. Cultural tourism is also about the pleasure of immersing yourself in the local lifestyle and in everything that constitutes its identity and character". Italy offers an extraordinary heritage of beauty in large cities as well as in small villages, in the countryside as well as in seaside and mountain resorts. Just think of the beauty of the landscape, scattered everywhere with traces that testify and tell two millennia of our history rich in plural identities, given by origins, populations, and different languages, in every small or large village from North to South.
The traces of this beauty can be found beyond the many and rich museums present on the national territory, scattered throughout the country in a context of a "widespread museum". To the beauty of the places is added the language, the cuisine, and the way of life. When creativity and beauty intersect with tradition and innovation, situations of excellence are produced.

Italy is the country that holds the record for the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world with 53 assets on the list in 2017, to which must be added 8 realities of traditional culture and folklore recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and 20 Literary Parks. Italy also has a large network of Protected Areas (871 protected areas are registered in the official list), to safeguard the landscape, biodiversity, fauna and flora, local crops and productions, consisting of 25 National Parks, to which must be added regional, interregional, municipal and local natural parks, natural reserves, and wetlands of international interest, with a protected area of over 10% of the national territory. The picture of the natural heritage is completed with 27 MPAs (Marine Protected Areas), 2 submerged parks, and an International Sanctuary for the Protection of Cetaceans.

Italy is the country with the highest number of European Union awards for agri-food specialties: Italian food products with denomination of origin and geographical indication are 291, of which 166 DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) and 125 IGP (Protected Geographical Indication), in addition to 2 TSG (Guaranteed Traditional Specialty). In the Atlas of typical products published in 2000, 475 typical and traditional products were recorded. Twelve percent of agricultural land is cultivated according to the dictates of organic farming.

Why do so many people study Italian today? Despite the political and economic importance of other languages, the number of people studying Italian is growing continuously even in countries that have not experienced Italian immigration. The most common motivation is cultural enrichment, followed by needs for study, work, tourism or emotional reasons. Italian is a language of culture, it is the language of Dante, of bel canto, of opera. It is the language of great artists, painters, poets, writers and philosophers. It is also the language of the Pope, being the official language, together with Latin, of Vatican City. The Italian language is a musical language, open, varied and redundant, so understanding Italian is easier than in other languages and also more enjoyable.
But Italian is also the language that accompanies Made in Italy: it is the language of fashion, cooking and cars. All this is synonymous with quality, style and knowing how to live. Italian is also Dolce Vita. Italian is an important part of that Italy full of art treasures, landscapes and magic. And Italians are a creative, friendly and warm people. Speaking Italian is a resource for growing from a human, cultural and professional point of view. Italian industry remains one of the most important in the world.

In line with the World Code of Ethics for Tourism (World Tourism Organization - OMT), and with the reference ethical charters of the Italian Association for Responsible Tourism (AITR), the principles that inspire us are:

  • promote tourism that contributes to the defense and enhancement of the cultural, historical, linguistic and environmental heritage of its territory;

  • promote tourism as an instrument of mutual respect between peoples, respecting and recognizing the value of different social and cultural traditions and practices;

  • promote tourism as a factor of lasting development, contributing to the protection of the environment and natural resources, satisfying the needs and aspirations of present and future generations in a fair way;

  • encourage, as far as possible, the use of local products (food, artisanal or industrial), applying the principles of the short chain and establishing a cooperative relationship between the various parties;

  • adopt a commercial ethic by protecting and respecting the customer and practicing a fair pricing policy;

  • adopt an ethic of welcoming all types of public, with particular attention to groups, families with children, the elderly and visitors with disabilities, favoring access to places of tourist interest and accommodation facilities.