Within the framework of the XVIII Euro-Mediterranean Dialogue, the 2025 International General Assembly was held in the Archaeological Museum of Marsala (Italy) on March 21st and 22nd, organised under the patronage of the Department of Tourism of the Sicilian Region and with a strong participation from delegations of member countries of the Phoenicians’ Route.
In addition, through an initiative funded by the Sicilian Region, “TourMed & Routes”, territories and tourism offers were presented to tour operators and the general public, as well as through the press.
The first day opened with the International General Assembly of the members of the Phoenicians’ Route. After the institutional greetings, the Director presented the annual report of activities and the budget for approval by the Assembly. An important moment was dedicated to the memory of Osama Hamdan, President of the Mosaic Centre Jericho and member of the International Scientific Committee.
Followed by presentations of:
> European projects underway: among these the COSME Project “Smarties for SMEs”; the two Erasmus+ Projects Next Routes and I-Demo and the Interreg EuroMED “MED-Routes”;
> innovative projects linked to cultural tourism and the promotion of heritage, such as SyPEAH (System for the Protection and Education of Archaeological Heritage) for a new system to monitor and control the Colosseum, created with the Space Agency, presented by Alberto Samonà, member of the Board of Directors of the Colosseum Archaeological Park;
> destinations and partners of the Phoenicians‘ Route.
During the event, the President Elena Tanou and the Director Antonio Barone delivered the certificate to the new member “Minerva INTIS” based in Georgia. A new country (the 16th) has therefore joined the International Network of the Phoenicians’ Route.
At the end of the first day Cristiano Tiussi, Director of the Aquileia Foundation, together with Polonca Vodopivec and Tanja Dimitrijević, European Project Office of the Municipality of Ajdovščina Občina Ajdovščina (Slovenia) announced that they will jointly host the 2026 International General Assembly of the Phoenicians’ Route.