Bike Friendly’s participation in the KEDE conference on the development of cycling tourism on the Eurovelo routes

The aim of the conference was to inform and raise awareness of the Local Government regarding the implementation and exploitation of the Greek Eurovelo routes and the development of cycling tourism, especially in the municipalities through which the three routes pass.

The conference was held within the framework of the memorandum of cooperation recently signed between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Ministry of Tourism, the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) and the NGO “Cities for Cycling”.

The Secretary General of KEDE, Dimitris Kafantaris, opening the proceedings of the conference, stressed that Local Government has a huge challenge, which has to do with the new landscape that is being shaped in our country with the new tourist product, cycling tourism, which comes with the three new cycling routes. This is an effort that has been underway since 2011, which continues with the study prepared by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the coordination of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and especially the competent Deputy Minister V. Economou, so that our country can join the international cycling system and every cyclist knows exactly where these routes are”.

Mr. Kafantaris also noted that “this challenge is very important for the Local Government for two main reasons. Firstly, because the Local Government can and does mobilize and raise awareness of society by informing and consulting with citizens and businesses that are directly related to the subject and we are talking about 50 municipalities that these three routes pass through. The second is that the Local Government contributes to local development through actions and projects, therefore it also contributes to the creation of a tourist product.

The president of KEDE, Lazaros Kyrizoglou, emphasized in his statement that “the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation seeks to promote, promote and develop both cycling tourism and cycling as a means of gentle transportation, at a time when a healthy lifestyle and the carbon footprint of transportation on the environment are key concerns, while the need for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions as well as enhancing the quality of life of citizens are becoming more urgent than ever. By introducing cycling as a basic means of transportation, we contribute to the creation of greener, healthier and more citizen-friendly cities. However, the benefits of cycling tourism are not limited to the above but also extend to the development of local communities, which is a key objective and main concern of the Local Government”.

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Vassilis Economou stated after the event:

“Cycling tourism is a modern and completely sustainable way to highlight the cultural and natural advantages of Greece. In this context, EuroVelo functions as a powerful tool that combines sustainable mobility with the promotion of our national wealth. In 2021, we laid the foundations by signing the Memorandum of Understanding, while significant steps have been taken since then. We created the National Coordination Center (ESKE) and collaborated closely with Ministries, the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE), and organizations such as “Cities for the Bicycle”. At the same time, we proceeded to study routes such as EV8, EV11 and part of EV13, with secured funding and technical support, while we created the electronic platform eurovelo.gr to better inform interested parties. We are immediately moving forward with the presentation of the national action plan for the EuroVelo routes, which includes the installation of information signs, the improvement of critical sections and the upgrade of the electronic platform. At the same time, we are working intensively to complete the candidacy file for hosting the EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference 2026, thus strengthening Greece’s position on the cycling tourism map. Our strategic goal is to establish Greece as a leading cycling tourism destination in Europe. Cycling tourism is emerging as a lever for sustainable development, contributing significantly to the country’s prosperity, the strengthening of local communities, the protection of the environment and the promotion of our cultural heritage. It is a pillar that is directly linked to the health and well-being of people, promoting a modern lifestyle that respects nature and our culture.”

The Secretary General of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Efthimios Bakoyannis, stressed that important steps have been taken to develop the Eurovelo program and promote cycling tourism. There is a route study, while the Ministry of Environment and Energy can undertake the financing of the project, which is estimated at a maximum of 700 thousand euros, for the implementation of the main network and the supplementary network. He also announced that after cooperation with the municipalities through which the routes pass, there will be a legislative initiative by the government, so that then, by a joint ministerial decision of all the co-responsible ministries, the studies will be approved and the tendering of the project will proceed, with a single public tender for both the main network and the supplementary network of points of interest. It should be noted that Route 13, which starts from the settlement of Promachona in the municipality of Siniki, Serres and reaches Kastanies in Evros, will cross our country, Route 8, which starts from Igoumenitsa and through Rio Antirrio ends in Athens, while Route 11 starts from the Evzone border line and ends in Athens. The Peloponnese, Crete, Cyclades, Dodecanese and Ionian Islands are excluded from the plan. During the discussion, the possibility of including the above regions in a new plan was left open.

Spyros Papageorgiou, representative of the “Cities for Cycling” Organization and member of the Eurovelo National Coordination Center (ESKE), referred to the European experience of EuroVelo routes and the prospects for the development of cycling tourism in our country. According to the data presented by Mr. Papageorgiou, the development of cycling tourism brings in a lot of revenue with relatively small investments. An EU study in 2012 showed that revenue from cycling tourism amounted to 44 billion euros, while revenue from cruises was 39 billion euros. In 2023, Denmark had revenue from cycling tourism of 2.8 billion euros, Italy 5.5 billion euros (+35% compared to 2022), while Greece’s position is extremely low. As for the European cycling network Eurovelo, it was designed in 1995, it has routes in 17 European countries, 3 of which cross Greece, it covers 92,000 kilometers and of these 66% is ready for use, while 37% is already marked. As for our country, when the study is implemented, Greece will be the only country with two of its three routes fully signposted.

During the conference, the municipal councilor of the municipality of Kato Nevrokopi for sports issues, Vasilios Kastidis, presented the work that the municipality has already implemented on the 38.9-kilometer section of the EuroVelo EV13 route that passes through the municipality. As Mr. Kastidis mentioned, the municipality of Kato Nevrokopi is the only municipality that has completed the work and projects of the route, which is fully signposted, has been tested by a competent certified cycling coach for electric and compatible bicycles and was deemed excellent.

Finally, the conference – among others – was attended by a representative of the Bike Friendly Network, informing the participants about the operation of the Bike Friendly Network since 2016, and making the Network available to KEDE, the co-responsible ministries and organizations, in the direction of sharing experiences and practices from the operation of the Network, the further development of cycling tourism in Greece and its emergence as an ideal destination for cyclists.

See below the video from the conference and the intervention of the representative of the Bike Friendly Network at the end of the conference.