La littorina dell'Etna:la Circumetnea come prodotto turistico enogastronomico

This work reports results of an exploratory research about the potential development of the railway Circumetnea as a cultural and gastronomic tourist product in Sicily. Currently the railway is one of the routes related to the Etna Wine Route (founded in 2003) under the name of La Littorina dell’Etna, along with other routes, La Via della Zagara, La Maremonti and La via dei Castelli. The research question concerns the willingness of local entrepreneurs to set up a tourism product gathering cultural, environmental and food and wine assets of the area. For describing the stakeholders network of Littorina Etna as a tourism product a dozen of interviews has been performed, investigating whether local entrepreneurs identify possible benefits and actual implementation, what characters should have the product and who are local agents acting in favor or against the initiative. Results state a largely positive perception by local society on economic potentialities of Littorina for the development of wine tourism, but also a big lack of social cohesion and capability to effectively link private initiatives with public policies. Results obtained are good for public choices and suggest a greater participation and involvement of individuals in the formulation of public intervention.