Italy’s commissioner for Yeosu seemed impressed with the environment around Yeosu, the site for Expo 2012, but expressed some concern that the region was not living up to its full potential.

“Tourism can give a helping hand providing it is sustainable, that it is not this cynical utilization or cementification of the coast which sometimes occurs,” Claudio Moreno told The Korea Herald.

Italy is a peninsular country, like Korea, with a highly developed northern region and a lesser developed southern area.

“Tourism is a way to strike a balance, create attractions in the south,” he said. “This is a long-lasting problem in Italy too.”

Moreno plans to highlight the potential that tourism plays on coastal areas by showcasing small harbors that would offer sailing excursions and motorboat fun.

“The knowledge that we have to utilize this resource in Italy and in the Mediterranean can be shared,” he said pointing to North African countries that have started developing their harbors for tourism.

Moreno believes that the development of a viable maritime tourism infrastructure would bode well in South Jeolla Province, where there is a large enough population to cater to a possible infusion of visitors looking to enjoy what the sea has to offer both above and below.

The Italian delegation will also offer mini-cruises to nearby islands on its latest yachts.

Renewable energy has the potential to become big business so the pavilion will display systems conceived and built in Italy that produce energy from biomass, algae and other marine resources that do not alter the ecological balance of the seas.

The activity of companies specializing in the sustainable exploitation of the coast and the seas is illustrated with examples of avant-garde solutions. One is Venice’s MOSE lagoon-defense project, which will protect the UNESCO site from flooding.

“The MOSE system will preserve the traditional history and works of art (of Venice) by utilizing the highest technology possible in the sector,” he said.

In short, the system will raise dams to defend the city from rising tides, and then drop when the tides recede.

The Mediterranean Sea is a treasure trove of ancient relics ― either excavated or sitting at the bottom with Davy Jones’ locker.

The Italian pavilion will demonstrate the newest forms of sea excavation and show films that discuss the treasures that were discovered, like the Riace Bronze statues.

One highlight of their pavilion will be the display of two, 2-meter-tall statues discovered near Sardinia known as the Giants of the Sea.

“For the first time we are bringing them outside of Italy,” he said. “These date back to the 10th century before Christ. It’s an incredible discovery that is still to be discussed today.”

On top of everything available to experience at the pavilion, there will also be Italian food and boutiques and a detailed preview to the Milan Expo in 2015.

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldcorp.com)