The Municipality of Aristotelis in Halkidiki has received the renewal of its Bike Friendly certification for the next three years (2023–2026) from NatTour. It was the first municipality in the country to be awarded this certification three years ago, paving the way for emerging trends in national alternative tourism.
The Municipality of Aristotelis in Halkidiki has renewed its Bike Friendly certification for another 3 years
The Municipality of Aristotelis in Halkidiki has received the renewal of its Bike Friendly certification for the next three years (2023–2026) from NatTour. It was the first municipality in the country to be awarded this certification three years ago, paving the way for emerging trends in national alternative tourism.
The Bike Friendly label award ceremony took place at Mount Athos Resort in Ierissos, with the participation of representatives from the tourism industry, including local hoteliers, travel agents, and media.
During the ceremony, Vasilis Paradas, biking specialist of the Aristotelis Partnership, presented how the cycling network of the Athos peninsula is being enriched with:
- New routes,
- The addition of emergency exits to existing routes,
- New signage,
- QR codes,
- Digital maps, and
- Even more detailed mapping.
Each route is linked to a local historical identity, promoting not only the region’s natural beauty surrounding Mount Athos but also key cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, monuments, wineries, dairies, and general historical and economic assets.
The Municipality of Aristotelis‘ marketing plan for cycling tourism targets markets in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, and Scandinavia. It includes targeted exhibition participation, digital campaigns, and integrating cycling tourism with other activities such as road tourism and adventure tourism. One of the municipality’s goals is to attract cycling teams for training in Eastern Halkidiki, eventually leading to the organization of international cycling races.
“We have created yet another comprehensive tourism product,” said Mayor Stelios Valianos of Aristotelis, “by maintaining and certifying existing infrastructure, adding modern elements, and including many local hotels and businesses in the national Bike Friendly platform, so that cyclists find a modern, safe, extensive, and complete network of cycling services in the area.”
The Bike Friendly label was received by Nikos Avgerinos, Chairman of the Municipality’s Tourism Promotion and Development Committee, who emphasized the success of the official partnership’s initiatives between:
- Local government and
- Local tourism professionals.
“The attraction of walking and cycling tourism agencies to Eastern Halkidiki from the Netherlands, the UK, and Scandinavia,” said Avgerinos, “and the development of domestic walking tourism in the municipality’s mountainous regions is the most tangible proof of the correctness of our choices, efforts, and investments.”
Adding to the discussion, Vicky Karantzavelou, General Manager of NatTour, elaborated on the project’s philosophy, highlighting the importance of cycling tourism as both a local and national tourism product.
The Bike Friendly label is awarded to hotels, as well as municipalities or tourism destinations/organizations, that meet a series of internationally recognized quality criteria. It is developed by NatTour, in collaboration with the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN). The Bike Friendly initiatives are under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Environment & Energy.
