On 11-13 October 2023, the European cycle route network held a conference on the theme “Cycling: a new perspective in heritage”. The event was organised by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) and Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), in partnership with the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and other local stakeholders.
The main purpose of the conference was to engage participants from relevant public, private, and third-sector organizations, fostering the exchange of experiences, establishing partnerships, and advancing the development of cycling tourism and cycle route networks throughout Europe.
Mr Stefano DOMINIONI, Executive Secretary of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes (EPA), took part in the plenary session ‘Bringing cycling tourism higher on the political agenda’ on Thursday 12 October. This session provided an opportunity to examine the political aspects of cycling tourism, including discussions with high-level representatives. This session was the occasion of discussing how cycling tourism contributes to the strategy of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Programme and the promotion of Cultural tourism and the development of this positive trend.
On Wednesday 11 October, the conference included a ceremony marking the renewal of certification of the Route EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail as Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, in the presence of Henk SWARTTOUW, President of the Route, and Stefano DOMINIONI who gave a speech on the EPA decision to recertify Iron Curtain Trail-EuroVelo 13 as Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, and handed over a printed certificate to the President.
Certified by the Council of Europe in 2019, the Iron Curtain Trail – EuroVelo 13 Route retraces the physical border stretching from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea dividing Eastern and Western Europe for almost half a century following the end of the Second World War. The Route currently crosses 14 EPA member States, and aims to connect many historic buildings, monuments, museums and landmarks which remind us of the history of a divided Europe.
Link to the photo gallery of the event: Day 1, 11th of October – EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference İZMİR 2023 (euroveloconferenceizmir.com)
