High-level proposals for sustainable tourism mobility include cycling as part of the solution
What is it?
The Transport, Health, and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) was established in 2002 by UNECE and WHO member states to promote sustainable and healthy transport. In 2021, THE PEP Partnership on Sustainable Tourism Mobility was launched, coordinated by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy.
The partnership brings together national administrations from the pan-European region working on mobility, transport, tourism and climate action, as well as ECF. In November 2024, the partnership finalised a report with guiding principles, practical recommendations and case studies on how States can promote sustainable mobility in tourism. ECF is also involved in THE PEP partnership focusing on Healthy Active Mobility.
What does it say?
THE PEP guide to sustainable tourism mobility outlines two overarching actions and seven fields of action for national authorities. The overarching actions are to strengthen institutional capacity by enhancing the operations of national agencies and to integrate sustainable tourism mobility practices in national strategies. In addition to these overarching actions, the report identifies seven key fields of action. Among these, one is dedicated to active mobility: promoting cycling and walking not only contributes to cleaner and healthier transport but also boosts local economies, particularly during off-peak seasons and in less-visited areas. In that field, priorities are investment in infrastructure, multimodal connections, data collection and stronger governance.
The report also calls for other type of actions to be taken on better understanding mobility needs of tourist groups, mobility management at destinations, long-distance travel options, flexible transport systems, multimodal travel information, or sustainable mobility services into tourism packages. In all these areas, cycling must be integrated as a fully-fledged mode of transport to reduce the environmental impact of tourism, contribute to healthier societies, and bring sustainable economic impact for destinations.
Why is this important?
THE PEP report adds to a growing emphasis on sustainability and climate action in the tourism sector. Transport accounts for the highest share of tourism emissions, and ECF is convinced that cycling represents an essential and transversal solution to the transition of the sector, not only as an experience but also as a mode of transport at the destination and in a multimodal context. In the tourism sector’s efforts to lessen the environmental impact of tourism and develop a sustainable tourism model, the potential of cycling tourism as a cross-cutting solution is still not adequately reflected in the industry’s plan for climate action in tourism mobility. Capitalising on active mobility will be key to address the industry’s challenges, and ECF’s contribution to the THE PEP guide for national authorities is a crucial step forward.
What’s next?
THE PEP guide represents a collective commitment to advance sustainable tourism mobility from national authorities across the pan-European region. The key next step is to ensure that THE PEP partnership blueprint is reflected in national transport and tourism strategies in Europe and beyond. Our network of National EuroVelo Coordination Centres and ECF members play a crucial role in disseminating the best practices and principles on cycling and tourism mobility, and ensuring they lead to tangible actions at the national level.
Written by Amund Skogrand
Cover photo: Mikko-Pekka Karlin