How cycling tourism and EuroVelo should be supported by the European Agenda for Tourism 2030

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13 Dec, 2022

The Council of the European Union stresses “determination to promote sustainable tourism” in its conclusions on the European Agenda for Tourism 2030. ECF illustrates how EuroVelo cycling tourism can be part of the agenda’s Multi-annual EU Work Plan.

On 1 December, the Council of the European Union published its conclusions on the European Agenda for Tourism 2030, underlining its “determination to promote sustainable tourism” and “to capitalise on the willingness of many Europeans to change their travel and tourism habits”. At ECF, we believe that cycling tourism and EuroVelo are ready to lead the way towards more sustainable tourism in Europe – here’s why!

The environmental impact of tourism is greatly influenced by transport. Within the conclusions, the Council of the EU invites Member States to support “thedecarbonisation of mobility”, including the promotion of “active mobility modes, such as cycling and hiking, and encouraging longer stays”. This is completely in line with what ECF has been promoting for 25 Years through EuroVelo, the European Cycle Route Network.

The conclusions recommend developing more statistics on sustainable tourism in order to support all stakeholders through data. We also need more data on cycling tourism in Europe, as the last study on the subject is dated back ten years. Despite this, ECF has already implemented a EuroVelo Data Hub that demonstrates the growth of the sector. The results include aggregated data on EuroVelo routes, collected through three data sources, for a better understanding of their use over time. However, more datais needed to better benefit its potential.

(Source: Laura León Navarra via Flickr)

How can cycling tourism and EuroVelo be part of the “Multi-annual EU Work Plan of the European Agenda for Tourism 2030”?

Here are some ideas on how cycling tourism and EuroVelo could contribute to the goal and objectives of the European Agenda for Tourism 2030:

Priority area: Enabling policy framework and governance:

Produce statistics and indicators on cycling tourism and EuroVelo
Comprehensive tourism strategies development or update: include cycling tourism and EuroVelo in all comprehensive tourism strategies, at all levels

Priority area: Digital transition:

Public data sharing for encouraging innovative tourism services: include cycling tourism data to the open public datasets (on cycling friendly schemes operators for example)
Research and innovation projects and pilots on digital tools and services in tourism: support an upgraded update of EuroVelo.com, the European hub on cycling tourism, and the capacity building for national web portals on cycling tourism.

Priority area: Resilience and inclusion:

Accessibility of tourism services: support projects giving access to cycling tourism to all users, especially persons with disabilities and other groups with specific needs.
Resilient EU tourism services and destinations: support projects to develop cycling tourism in all seasons, in rural areas and in relation to other tourism offers, services or themes.
Sustainable innovation in tourism services: support projects and research to demonstrate the positive impact of cycling tourism for residents and local ways of life.

During the online event celebrating EuroVelo's 25th anniversary,“Laying the foundations for cycle tourism in Europe”, EuroVelo Manager Agathe Daudibon shared EuroVelo's 2030 strategy: “Our vision for 2030 is a fully developed, high-quality cycle path network. Currently, the network is 64% developed, with more than 35,000 km of EuroVelo signposted in 24 European countries”. Once the remaining 36% is developed, there will be no more limits for sustainable cycling tourism ifhigh quality services are also provided and information is easily accessible.

EuroVelo perfectly encapsulates what the Agenda envisages for tourism in Europe over the next decade: “sustainable, resilient, digital, global and social”. And much like the tourism industry, EuroVelo has a cross-sectoral nature. That is a key reason why it should be included as an additional network in the EU’s flagship transport policy, the Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T), which guidelines are being discussed now. ECF calls for a strong commitment to support EuroVelo to fully benefit from its economic, social and environmental positive impacts.

Discover more about our campaign to get cycling and EuroVelo included in the upcoming revision of the TEN-T guidelines here.

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