The Mediterranean Route – Euro Velo 8 (EV8) aims at enhancing and promoting sustainable transnational thematic tourism products with the help of cycling tourism, one of the most sustainable form of tourism from an environmental (low CO2 emissions during holidays by bike and less emissions to reach the destinations by using public transport), social (less harmful impact, more interaction with the local population) and economic point of view (longer stays, more spending, more local products – services consumed).
EuroVelo 8 – Website presentation
The entitled project: The Mediterranean Route – Euro Velo 8 (EV8) aims at enhancing and promoting sustainable transnational thematic tourism products with the help of cycling tourism, one of the most sustainable form of tourism from an environmental (low CO2 emissions during holidays by bike and less emissions to reach the destinations by using public transport), social (less harmful impact, more interaction with the local population) and economic point of view (longer stays, more spending, more local products – services consumed).
It combines the use of the well-developed existing (non-cycling) tourism brands with the existing routes in the Mediterranean region, creating a potential for expansion and improvement of tourism destinations – which are currently concentrated along the coast, around a few touristic sights and mostly visited by motorized vehicles in the peak season – in a sustainable way.
Moreover, EuroVelo8 attempts to create a favorable environment for transnational cooperation among tourism-related stakeholders with a particular emphasis on the SMEs, through the creation and promotion of transnational offers and touristic packages.
The Mediterranean Route – EuroVelo 8 runs for nearly 6.000 km through 11 countries. The project will bring together stakeholders from 7 countries along the route (Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Albania, Greece, Cyprus) and 2 other countries representing the potential target markets (Denmark, Belgium).
Objectives
– Strengthening transnational cooperation with regard to sustainable tourism.
The project will cover the best, most developed sections of the route with bookable packages and connect them to each other to take advantage of their synergies.
– Encouraging a higher involvement of small and medium enterprises and local authorities.
This can be achieved through close cooperation between local, regional, national and trans-national service providers in developing and selling packages. In the case of local authorities, participation will improve conditions for the target groups.
– Stimulating competitiveness of tourism industry focusing on the diversification of sustainable tourism thematic products.
This objective can be met by exploiting the unique Mediterranean landscape, culture and international recognition of the Mediterranean region as a holiday destination. Use of this branding and heritage will be highly competitive in transnational tourism markets so this is an effective and sustainable proposal. Cycling is part of the brand “Europe” when it comes to holiday destinations and should be communicated to overseas markets, because some parts of Europe are already well known as ideal places for cycling mobility and cycling sport. The current project will greatly promote the “Europe” brand by using the EuroVelo signs (blue shield, yellow stars of Europe, route number).
Target groups
European cyclists and cycling tourists, SMEs providing cycling friendly tourism services, NGOs and other bodies for development and tourism promotion.
Activities
– Creation of a transnational database of selected service providers among local, national and cross-border tour operators and SMEs.
– Development of approx. 50 tourism packages for daily to weekly trips on local, national and cross-border routes indicating itinerary, attractions, route conditions, suggested accommodation and connections with public transportation.
– Development of the existing EuroVelo8 web sites.
– Promotion activities (participation in fairs and tourism events, study tours, printing promotion material)
Duration
The project is going to be implemented from 1st April 2014 to 31st August 2015.
Partners
Province of Mantova (Italy)
ECF – European Cyclists’ Federation
Province of Ferrara (Italy)
Regional Development Centre Koper (Slovenia)
ENIT – Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo (Italy)
Regione Piemonte (Italy)
ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΟΣ ΟΡΓΑΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΤΟΥΡΙΣΜΟΥ – Cyprus Tourism Organization (Cyprus)
Concorci de les Vies Verdes de Girona (Spain)
GO2 (Albania)
Pays Pays Pirénées-Méditerranée (France)
Foreningen Frie Fugle (Denmark)
Conseil Général des Alpes-Maritimes (France)
ANTIGONE – Information and Documentation Centre on Racism, Ecology, Peace and Non-violence (Greece)
Funding body
The project is implemented with the support of EUROPEAN COMMISSION Enterprise & Industry Directorate General.
