Search Results (3)

The implementation of the trans-European tourist cycle route network “EuroVelo” is fostering new strategic importance for non-motorized mobility and the associated practice of cycling tourism. Indeed, slow tourism offers a pathway for the development of inland areas. The infrastructure supporting it, such as long-distance cycling and walking paths, can act as a vital connection, stimulating regeneration in peripheral territories by enhancing environmental and landscape assets, as well as preserving heritage, local identity, and culture. The regeneration of peri-urban landscapes through soft mobility is recognized as the cornerstone for accessibility to material and immaterial resources (including ecosystem services) for multiple categories of users, including the most vulnerable, especially following the restoration of green-area systems and non-urbanized areas with degraded ecosystems. Considering the forthcoming implementation of the Magna Grecia cycling route, the southernmost segment of the “EuroVelo” network traversing three regions in southern Italy, this contribution briefly examines the necessity of defining new development policies to effectively integrate sustainable slow tourism with the enhancement of environmental and landscape values in the coastal areas along the route. Specifically, this case study focuses on a coastal stretch characterized by significant morphological and environmental features and notable landscapes interwoven with densely built environments. In this area, environmental and landscape values face considerable threats from scattered, irregular, low-density settlements, abandoned sites, and other inappropriate constructions along the coastline. Full article

The main objective of this study is to present the feasibility of rerouting the EuroVelo 6 through the Fruška Gora National Park (Serbia) as a sustainable eco-tourism product. Our research was conducted with a survey and field interviews. The first part of this research involved consulting 717 cyclists from six EU countries, and the opinions of local entrepreneurs and employees of the national park were also investigated. An architect made a “blueprint” info board as a proposal for trails within the national park. The purpose of conducting this research was to show the importance of retracing an international route. Cyclists expressed their satisfaction with the proposed F1 track to the greatest extent. The results of the survey of employees of the NP suggested the sustainability of cycling tourists because they showed great responsibility in their behavior, and the results of the domestic entrepreneurs particularly pointed to some economic aspects of the development of cycling, as well as its impact on the empowerment of women in rural destinations. It was concluded that rerouting the “Danube Cycle Route” through the Fruška Gora National Park is feasible and sustainable. The results obtained in this study provide a justification for this retracing because it turns out that cyclists are desirable, responsible, and sustainable tourists who have a significant impact on the destinations and people they are directed to. This research will be applied to every attractive part along EuroVelo 6, thus expanding the network of cycle paths. Full article

European, national, and regional policies have promoted slow routes in recent decades. This paper aims to define a multi-scale method to use these routes to promote the identities of rural places. The method develops (i) a GIS-based network analysis to define the boundaries of the service area of the route and then (ii) a participatory strategy to promote its rural identity. Furthermore, this paper studies the quality criteria for slow European routes (iii) to define quality criteria specifically for rural slow routes and to connect the case study to the broader European network. The results show that the European certification standard of EuroVelo is a valid document to evaluate the quality of slow routes in rural contexts. The case study is a slow route along the Trasimeno lake (Italy), 61 km long, called the Trasimeno ring. The service area of the route has a surface of 325 km² and is defined as the surface that can be reached with detours from the route not exceeding 5 km along rural roads with low traffic (max 2000 v/d) and gentle slopes (maximum gradient of 15% and a cumulative elevation change for every kilometer of the road lower than 50 m). The participatory process was developed for one municipality (15.35% of the service area) with 326 km of rural streets and 35 activities linked to agriculture. In total, 80% of the rural stakeholders participated in building an online collaborative map to promote the area. The results show that rural stakeholders evaluate collaborative maps as an effective strategy for encouraging tourists and inhabitants to discover, use and respect rural place identities. Full article