The economic region of Veneto
Textile industry and wine growing as the driving force
Generally, visitors associate with Veneto with Venice and its seaside resorts. But the region offers much more than you may think at first glance. In addition to its natural diversity, Veneto also benefits from economic diversity. Besides a strong-rooted textile industry, the region is predominantly agricultural. Corn, wheat, potatoes, rice, various kinds of fruit, and above all wine and sparkling wine are the main exports. The fertile Po Valley contains most of the agricultural land in Veneto. It offers less scenic beauty for tourists, but it is very important for the region itself.
Agriculture in Veneto
Despite the advance of industrialisation, Veneto is still strongly influenced by agriculture. In the large portions of its fertile plains and the surrounding hills, cereals, wine and fruits are grown. The grapes for famous wines such as Bardolino, Valpolicella and Prosecco ripen in the hills around Verona, Vicenza and Treviso, while corn, wheat, potatoes and rice are grown in the plains of the Po Delta. In the coastal areas you can find numerous fruit growers, fishermen and shellfish farmers. Shellfish farmers and fishermen have a long tradition in Veneto, but dwindling fish stocks make survival increasingly difficult for them.
Textile and heavy industry
The industrial sector has exploded in recent years and turned Veneto into a major economic region of Italy. Many companies have settled in Veneto, and a wide variety of products are produced there. Along with the traditional textile industry, which has created brands like “Diesel”, “Replay” and “Benetton”, the other industries are mainly concentrated around Verona and Vicenza. From an environmental point of view, the location of heavy industry and petrochemical factories in Porto Marghera directly at the entrance to the lagoon of Venice is truly disastrous. However, a solution to this serious problem is not yet in sight.
Many other important companies are based in Veneto. While Verona is a centre of gold and silver work, the motorcycle manufacturer “Aprilia” is located in Noale. “DeLonghi”, “Electrolux” and “Geox” are based in Treviso. Europe’s biggest eyewear manufacturer, “Luxottica”, has its headquarters in Agordo.
Lifeline tourism
Unquestionably, one of the most lucrative sectors of the economy is tourism. Venice alone attracts millions of tourists every year and is one of the major tourist attractions in Italy. With 14 million tourists in total, Venice is the number one destination in Italy. But Veneto is much more than the surrounding area of Venice. Numerous seaside resorts such as Caorle, Bibione, and Jesolo, as well as the holiday destinations around Lake Garda attract many holidaymakers every summer. Along with the Venetian Carnival, the ski resorts around Cortina d’Ampezzo are well booked in winter. The cultural and university cities of Verona and Padua are near Venice and are also very popular destinations for tourists from all over the world.
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