Sustainable Destination Management
Strategies in the OIC Member Countries
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responsible for the development of national and international promotion strategies. Similarly, it
provides support and consultation services to the central government, regional authorities, and
public and private entities with regards to promoting tourism products. The Board also carries
some activities in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its various
diplomatic and consular offices worldwide. 280
The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism is responsible for the legislative
framework for the tourism industry in Italy, working together with various public bodies that
represent the regions and municipalities. It works through the Directorate-General (DG) for
Tourism, which sets the strategic policy agenda. The DG works closely and in coordination with
regional and provincial authorities to develop and launch national tourism policies, since the
autonomous regions, according to the Italian Constitution, have the authority to regulate
businesses locally, develop strategic marketing activities, and manage European Structural
Funds.281 The Standing Committee for the Promotion of Tourism in Italy was established in
2014, and is composed of private and public entities. Its task is to draft a five-year National
Tourism Plan.
Figure 16: Italy Tourism Bodies
Source: OECD
The responsibilities of the DG include developing, integrating, implementing, coordinating, and
promoting national, European, and international tourism policies. It is also the link through
which regional governments relate to the central government regarding tourism
development.282 The DG for Tourism is also responsible for managing activities in the sector that
go beyond the competence of the regional authorities, such as providing funding and incentives
to generate or increase demand, issuing and delivering certifications to professionals, managing
relations with international organizations, and participating in the adoption and
implementation of European Union legislation.
The Italian Government Tourist Board ENIT (Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo) has the broad and
principal responsibility of marketing and promoting Italy as a tourist destination. In 2015, ENIT
became a public economic entity and, under the supervision of the Minister of Cultural Heritage,
280
281 OECD. (2018). Italy . In OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2018. Paris: OECD Publishing.
282 Director-General for Tourism. (n.d.). Mission. Retrieved from
general-for-tourism/.