Advocates for cycling tourism scored a victory when the Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN) of the European Parliament recognised cycling tourism as a “strategic European sector” in a tourism report they adopted during a session on 18 March. The report should be presented for final adoption at the European Parliament plenary session on 27 April.
The report was done on the initiative of MEP Daniel Attard (Socialists & Democrats, Malta), who proposed it in autumn 2025 with the aim of shaping the European Commission’s forthcoming EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy, which is expected to be released in June.
The initial draft report contained hardly any reference to cycling. Recognising that a European Parliament report with strong references to cycling tourism would support advocacy for its inclusion in the Commission’s strategy, ECF worked with several MEPs to provide messaging, information and proposal amendments. By the time the TRAN committee considered the report at their recent session, many MEPs had submitted amendments in line with what ECF had advised.
“The TRAN committee report is an important win for cycling tourism and EuroVelo,” says Agathe Daudibon, ECF’s EuroVelo and Cycling Tourism Director. “MEPs have shown that cycling tourism appeals to a broad audience, that it has firm roots in Europe’s cultural heritage, advances the EU’s sustainability goals and creates a competitive advantage for European tourism operators and destinations.”
The adopted report emphasises “the importance of initiatives such as EuroVelo” and call for “incentives to bolster” both cycling tourism and EuroVelo, and stress “that such initiatives foster sustainable mobility options, strengthening local communities and SMEs.” Another important amendment to the report “calls for EU funding to be made available to restore, transform and upgrade rolling stock and transport infrastructure – including rail, roads and cycling paths – for touristic destinations …” The full list of amendments to Mr Attard’s report adopted by the TRAN committee can be found
here.
This success comes on the back of ECF’s participation in the
Commission ‘High Level Strategic Dialogue on the EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy’ that was hosted by Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas on 25 February and the launch of an
Active Tourism Coalition (also recognised in the report, e.g. “recognises the potential of sports, active and outdoor tourism to contribute to regional development…”). ECF’s CEO, Laurianne Krid, made the case for how cycling tourism plays a meaningful role in Europe’s economy and offers something distinctive: an accessible, low-impact form of travel that creates benefits for local communities and works for people across generations.
Going forward, ECF will work with the Commission to create specific references and actions for cycling tourism and active tourism that can be included in the EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy. It will be important to ensure that the Commission and Parliament’s ambitions align so that governments and tourism operators receive a clear message that cycling tourism is a sector to prioritise.
