Ostuni: proposed luxury resort and 18‑hole golf course in the Coastal

Ostuni: proposed resort and golf course in the Coastal Dunes Park

A high-end tourism proposal targets land between Torre Bianca, Fiume Morello and Difesa di Malta within the Parco naturale regionale Dune Costiere. The concept includes a five‑star resort and a regulation 18‑hole golf course on an area exceeding 140 hectares. The transaction is estimated at around 7 million euros, sparking debate on environmental, landscape and planning implications.

Because the site lies within a protected park, any development must pass scrutiny by the park authority and relevant agencies to assess impacts on habitats, biodiversity and land‑use designations.

Open issues and conditional steps

The preliminary agreement between landowners and the investor contains multiple suspensive conditions. Key points to monitor include:

• Planning and cadastral checks: verification of land use and conformity of existing rural buildings.
• Right of pre‑emption: neighbouring owners may exercise pre‑emption rights, affecting the deal.
• Environmental permits: impact assessments and park authority opinions on compatibility with protection rules.
• Building permits and ZES authorization: securing construction permits and any single authorization required by the Special Economic Zone framework.

Territorial and tourism implications

If implemented, the resort could become a hub for luxury international tourism, helped by its proximity (about twenty minutes) to existing golf facilities such as Masseria San Domenico. Nevertheless, converting agricultural land and repurposing historic rural structures raise concerns about ecosystem resilience, loss of agricultural area and public access to the natural park.

How residents and stakeholders can act

• Monitor official announcements from the Parco delle Dune Costiere and the Municipality of Ostuni and take part in public consultations when open.
• Learn about environmental and planning procedures and request access to relevant documents if needed.
• Engage with local NGOs and community groups to evaluate landscape and biodiversity impacts.

At present the agreement is preliminary and contingent on several authorizations: the project’s future will depend on technical checks and institutional decisions that must confirm compatibility with the protection objectives of the park.