Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit is hosting a seminar entitled ‘Innovation flows: Bridges to boost the city economy – applying the concept of polycentric development to the Grand Harbour area’ at Europe House in St Paul’s Street, Valletta, on Friday at 9.30 a.m.
The seminar will provide an opportunity for key stakeholders involved in the future development of the harbour area to discuss their plans and concerns. Topics under discussion will include the feasibility of applying a polycentric development, the link between culture and tourism, regeneration and alternative urban tourism.
Public and private stakeholders involved in governance, planning, culture, transport, tourism, social services, business entities, creative industries, arts and cultural organisations and the community are invited to take part.
The foundation is participating in the In.flow.ence project (Innovation flows: European network for the city economy) a transnational initiative co-funded by the European Commission under the Med programme.
The event aims to showcase the In.flow.ence project and the national analysis being undertaken by foundation.
In.flow.ence centres round the notion that polycentricity is a strategic concept to foster territorially integrated, sustainable regional development.
Research in Malta is focusing on the area around the Grand Harbour which will include a number of coastal cities and towns with a history of maritime activity and a wealth of cultural heritage that offers potential for the creation of value-added tourism initiatives.
The concept of polycentricity will be applied to encourage the implementation of an integrated strategic planning model for the area with the goal of improving its competitiveness in the tourism market, and consequently its employment opportunities and quality of life.
This implies the parallel development of spatial, social, cultural and economic factors, or complementarities, of the various urban areas in the region.
The project will provide an opportunity to take advantage of existing regional urban networks to optimise their performance and to increase the tourism value of the area.
For further information contact Josianne Vella at the foundation on 2340 2189, 9925 5074 or e-mail josianne.vella@ftz.org.mt.