Investors are being sought to relaunch the village of Bard and, above all, to give new life to the former Reale hotel. There is talk of three million euros, including the renovation and purchase of the property that has not been used for decades and is in poor condition.
This structure, born at the beginning of the twentieth century as a restaurant and then transformed into a hotel in 1965, would be the starting point to recover vital spaces for the inhabitants of the village, to become their visiting card, but also to promote tourism in the Lower Valley : «We must find spaces – says Silvana Martino, mayor of Bard – such as parking lots and other services for the residents that would allow pedestrian access to the village. Then, a tourist reception point that makes known what Bard, the Forte and the Lower Valley offer. We also provide the reception for the widespread hotel. This is why we want it to be a shared path with the neighboring municipalities, the Mont-Avic park, the sports facilities ». One year to find partners and investors: «We are looking – says Laura Morelli, municipal secretary – both European funds and those of the NRP. Then, at the same time, we want to start structured meetings to find private investors and put in place the administrative acts for the expression of interest “.
The study was entrusted to Claudia Paris and Allegra Padovani of the Kyma Team, a Swiss agency that deals with product and place innovation: “Our analysis – says Paris – tells us that Covid-19 and the long confinement led to people to rediscover Italy, outdoor activities, nature. Regions and localities such as previously unknown villages have flourished ». The identikit of the tourist is also important: «Those who love villages – says Paris – want to have experiences by combining culture, food and wine and sport. Above all, he is an itinerant tourist and agrees to travel kilometers to find what he is looking for ».
The presence of the Bard Fort is very important, which, outside the pandemic, attracts about 200,000 visitors a year: “There must be symbiosis – says Claudia Paris – so that a part of the presences also pass through the village of Bard”. The communication strategy must therefore find the right levers to amplify the beauties of Bard: «To increase the attractiveness – says Allegra Padovani – it was decided to enhance some aspects of the events already in the schedule. In particular by combining culture with food and wine by joining national circuits such as the “Una boccata dell’arte” event which promotes local and emerging artists; or the “itinerant dinner” which would allow you to get to know the village by combining it with a musical show ». Bard could also become ideal for smart working: “Today – says Allegra Padovani – those who can work remotely look for structures that allow them to have a good connection, a suitable place to work and thus also combine the tourist aspect”. There are so many levers on which to count: «Tourists – says Padovani – also rely on organizations that promote sustainability such as“ Faroo ”or characteristic villages such as Airbnb’s“ Italian villages ””. Getting known and doing it well is one of the obligations to sell a place: «The tourist – says Padovani – gets information and books through the internet, so it is important to have a dedicated website and social presence that is always up-to-date. It is a win-win to invest in magazines in the sector and to join associations for the promotion of the villages ».
Another pillar is to restore color to the village: «We need an analysis – says Claudia Paris – of both the architecture and the materials to restore the original appearance to the houses and make the village beautiful, as was done for the Maison Bleue».
Enthusiastic Jean Pierre Guichardaz, regional councilor for tourism: «This project, aimed at private individuals, detaches itself from the idea that only the public should give impetus and carry out works. Il Forte, with the numbers it attracts, is our Skyway. By statute, it was created to give development to the Lower Valley and with the four million euros that have been allocated for its activities, it can do it well. From this project, wealth and well-being cannot but be born ».