Back to all

EuroVelo 8 Partnership

The EuroVelo 8 Partnership was created to sustain the outputs of the successful MEDCYCLETOUR project (2017-2020) aiming to develop EuroVelo 8 – Mediterranean Route and promote more generally cycling tourism in the region.

Developing cycling tourism in this Mediterranean region can help create year-round tourism with an emphasis on pre- and post-summer seasons, which are climatically very pleasant for exploring the Mediterranean by bike. It contributes to reducing the environmental impact of travelling in touristic countries and destinations and increasing the use of bicycles as a means of transport. It also prevents mass tourism by bringing tourists to less visited areas, creating a golden opportunity to get to know authentic local cultures and make a direct contribution to the local economy.

That is why a EuroVelo 8 Partnership (formerly called LTMA, Long-Term Management Agreement) was initiated from 1 January 2021 and shall remain in force until 31 December 2023. The partners can agree on a 3-year extension afterwards. It is based on the EU co-funded MEDCYCLETOUR project and its numerous outputs, which aimed at developing EuroVelo 8 – Mediterranean Route to influence regional and national policies in favour of sustainable and responsible tourism. The project also created transnational tools to attract tourists with transnational solutions in coastal areas across the Mediterranean.

The Partnership 2021-2023 ended and was extended for another 3 years starting in January 2024, lasting until 31 December 2026.

After the project's official end, the partners have decided to continue working together to develop further the route on both national and transnational levels and to focus on a number of activities, including:

  • Route Infrastructure (e.g. organising route infrastructure working group meetings and monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan)
  • Services (e.g. working with tour operators to promote transnationally relevant bookable offers).
  • Marketing and communication (e.g. managing the EuroVelo 8 - Mediterranean Route web portal and app, updates and distribution of the EuroVelo 8 promotional brochure).
  • Monitoring and impact assessment.

The 2024-2026 partnership consists of:

  • Türkiye – Izmir Metropolitan Municipality
  • Croatia – Croatian National Tourist Board (Member of the National EuroVelo Coordination Centre)
  • Slovenia – Regional Development Center Koper
  • France – Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
  • European Cyclists’ Federation (as Secretariat)

Picture: EuroVelo 8 - Mediterranean Route in Almeria, Spain