To stop being invisible, the town decided to rename itself.
An unusual story has unfolded in Italy's Liguria. A small seaside town has decided to change its official name so that it is finally displayed correctly on the internet. The reason is simple: search engines have been sending tourists to neighboring resorts for years.
Why the Town Became 'Invisible' to Tourists
Vallecrosia is located on the Riviera di Ponente, between Ventimiglia and Bordighera, near the French border. On one hand, the location is advantageous. On the other hand, tourists more often choose neighboring resorts.
The problem lies in the algorithms. According to city marketing research, search engines interpret part of the name "Valle" as "valley." Consequently, the system classifies the town as mountainous.
When searching on Google, users see information about landscapes and valleys, rather than beaches. Thus, Vallecrosia hardly appears in the list of seaside resorts. As a result, the tourist flow goes to other cities in Liguria.
Mayor Fabio Perri stated that it is not about the quality of the vacation. The town offers a full beach holiday, but the digital classification works against it.
Solution: Add "al Mare" to the Name
City authorities proposed a specific step. They want to officially rename the municipality to Vallecrosia al Mare, which means "Vallecrosia by the Sea."
This phrasing will immediately indicate the seaside location. Consequently, search engines will correctly recognize the town as a resort.
Conditions for approving the new name:
- participation of at least 30% of residents;
- a majority of votes in favor of renaming.
Voting took place on March 22, 2026, from 7 AM to 11 PM. On March 23, participants could vote until 3 PM. After that, the commission began counting.
What Vallecrosia Offers Tourists
Despite the digital difficulties, the town has obvious advantages. It is located right on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. The length of the beach area is about one kilometer.
Most of the beach is freely accessible. In addition, one can walk and cycle along the promenade. Sunsets over the sea are considered one of the main local features.
In particular, three kilometers from the coast is the historic center. There, medieval stone houses and narrow streets have been preserved. Thus, the town combines seaside recreation with the atmosphere of old Liguria.
Betting on Tourism and Digital Visibility
Mayor Fabio Perri openly discusses the goals. He wants to enhance the tourist appeal and bring the town to the top of search results. Thus, the new name should become a marketing tool.
Moreover, the authorities have already tripled the tourism budget for 2026. This will allow for more active promotion of beach holidays and the development of infrastructure.
The story of Vallecrosia shows an important trend. Today, the algorithms of Google Maps and tourist portals directly influence the economies of cities. As a result, even one word in the name can change the flow of vacationers.
If residents support the initiative, Vallecrosia al Mare will appear on the map of Italy. This means that the small coastal town will have a chance to emerge from the digital shadow and take its place among the popular resorts of Liguria.
Leave a comment