OBIMED aims at increasing cross border collaboration between Malta, Gozo and Sicily leading to a sustainable increase in economic activity for tourism operators present in the respective territories. This objective will be achieved by improving the accessibility to several tourist attractions present within the territories and by the development of a common product offer aimed at countering the se
asonal element negatively affecting operators in the tourism sector. Co-ordination between territorial stakeholders and innovative technological tools such as Iphone, Ipad and Android applications, WIFI Areas, Information Kiosks equipped with booking systems as well as marketing media such as websites and promotional videos will lead to targeted marketing campaigns and the dissemination of information about the product offer available in the different territories and thus increase tourism inflows during the low season. The project will develop a unique product offer aimed at specific targets with the resultant effect of enhancing the visibility of the regions concerned and increase regional economic activity in the tourism sector during shoulder months. A particular target of the promotional activities that will be implemented will be international social clubs such as Lyons, Rotary and Inner Wheels and thereby promoting the OBIMED offer within particular niches. The members of these prestigious organisations will be invited and enticed to trace the paths of the Knights of Malta, and immerse themselves in the atmosphere and era of when the Knights ruled the Maltese Islands and trace back through historical routes appositely created by the OBIMED project the knights’ customs, rituals and traditions. It is believed that to this day this theme, if appropriately packaged can attract a number of enthusiasts and that such an offer can be successfully promoted within international social clubs. The combination of itineraries that will be developed will be based on specific thematic themes covering Sciacca, Castelvetrano, Malta and Gozo and will vividly communicate the cultural richness and beauty of these territories, providing travellers an alternative holiday destination, specifically packaged to suit the needs of today’s ever demanding and sophisticated tourist. The touristic packages created by the project will be promoted via networking initiatives within social clubs present in countries which are connected by direct flights to the airports of Malta, Trapani and Palermo and all the project initiatives will be packaged into a Travel Box providing a comprehensive illustration of the different tourist operators present within each territory and the ancillary tourist services, facilities and attractions present en route each itinerary created by the project, thus providing the means for those interested to take part in this project in an active way. The travel boxes will also be promoted in at least two major international tourism events. The stakeholders will also seek the involvement of regional Tourism Authorities such as the Malta Tourism Authority to promote the OBIMED offer. The proposition is to enable Maltese and Sicilian youths to experience foreign cultures close to home and at the same time enable Maltese youths to practice the Italian language and Sicilian youths to practice the English language. The aim is also to make holidays for this particular tourist segment more affordable by integrating at the same time travelling with leisure, education and work experience abroad. The latter objective will be achieved by the development of a Job Experience Portal facilitating networking between tourism operators willing to offer traineeships and youths seeking to venture in foreign countries. The job experience portal will be widely promoted via networking at different educational institutions, the project website www.obimed.eu and social media. Particular beneficiaries of this initiative will be Hotel and Tourism Institutes present within each territory and therefore in order to achieve the desired result a number of presentations have been scheduled in several institutes in order to secure the participation of the relevant stakeholders in this initiative.
