The areas for project implementation are still considered to be in the “emerging” or development phase, although they have competitive advantages, but still lack sufficient tourist offers and activities. The BIKE CITIES project aims to address this gap at an interregional level.
City bike network for bicycles, e-bikes, etc.
Short description of the project
The areas for project implementation are still considered to be in the “emerging” or development phase, although they have competitive advantages, but still lack sufficient tourist offers and activities. The BIKE CITIES project aims to address this gap at the interregional level.
The project partners, the two larger municipalities (Seres and Strumica), the Lifelong Learning Center of the Region of Central Macedonia and the Promo Idea Organization were motivated to take action on the ground and specifically in bicycle tourism, which represents an excellent opportunity for green growth for the economy and a perfect form of tourism for the cross-border area, taking into account its natural resources and climatic conditions.
Bicycle tourism will extend the tourist season, reduce the environmental impact, bring tourists to those less visited areas (Seres and Strumica), increase the number of jobs and improve the living standards of the local population and create new tourist services and income in the regions.
BIKE CITIES aims to structure, promote and participate in the development of a cycling tourism offer in the cross-border area in order to generate economic benefits at a territorial and transnational level by increasing visits, strengthening the local economy and creating new activities and new jobs in general.
Partners
Municipality of Serres, Association Center for Development and Promotion PROMO IDEA Strumica, Lifelong Learning Level 2 Center of the Region of Central Macedonia, Regional Unit Serres, Municipality of Strumica
Total budget
702.977,44 €
Funded by
Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme between Greece and the Republic of North Macedonia 2014-2020
Results
The project results are organized in four axes:
1) Development of a new tourism product covering the entire target area: Bike parks in both countries, mapping of mountain bike trails and cycle paths in both areas and, bike training camps, etc.
2) Improvement of new tourism product with related services in the target area: Information centers for bicycles in both areas in Velo parks, bicycles, e-bikes, signs and other equipment needed for project activities in both countries, Organization of national racing events and Organization of a World Cup calendar event
3) Increasing the capacity of tourism stakeholders in both areas in order to further support the tourism offer and the local economy: training programs (Bicycle guides-instructors for beginners and tourists, bicycle instructors for athletes and training camps, bicycle management in hotels and restaurants) in both countries, Workshops for local organizations and enterprises from both areas for bicycle friendly development of sustainable tourism and workshops on sustainability and service of e-bikes and a study visit to the EU Velo park as a best practice
4) Promotion of the new tourism product: conferences and open events, publicity material, website, social media, participation in international expo and other activities as will be defined in the Communication Plan of the project, an integrated IT platform that combines information about the cycle and tourist destinations, as well as a multimedia exhibition related to the historical retrospective of the city.
Young unemployed or staff and entrepreneurs will gain new knowledge about bicycle-friendly businesses and bicycle tourism, but also about tourist services in general, and will acquire skills in business tourism management through the project activities, in order to work on new jobs that will appear as a consequence of the increased tourist attractiveness, not only in the two municipalities, but also in the wider regions through the new tourist routes and services that combine the expansion of the Velo Park.
Duration
2 years
Website
https://bikecnet.eu
Gallery
Documentation
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