With a booth and co-exhibitor, the Castelli Hotel of Zakynthos, Bike Friendly was presented at the Philoxenia exhibition and organized the Bike Forum 2022 with the presence of government officials. Deputy Minister Sofia Zacharaki emphasized the value of the Bike Friendly network for cycling tourism in our country.
Bike Friendly attended Philoxenia and organized the Bike Forum 2022
With a booth and co-exhibitor, the Castelli Hotel of Zakynthos, Bike Friendly was presented at the Philoxenia exhibition and organized the Bike Forum 2022 with the presence of government officials. Deputy Minister Sofia Zacharaki emphasized the value of the Bike Friendly network for cycling tourism in our country.
With a booth and co-exhibitor, the Castelli Hotel of Zakynthos, Bike Friendly was presented at the Philoxenia exhibition, organizing the Bike Forum 2022 with the presence of government officials. Deputy Minister Sofia Zacharaki emphasized the value of the Bike Friendly network for cycling tourism in our country.
The Bike Friendly certification label was presented once again this year at the Philoxenia exhibition, where it met with many of its member hotels as well as hotels seeking information on how to become certified as Bike Friendly. Additionally, many municipalities across the country showed great interest in certification, as cycling has now become a part of the lives of both residents and visitors in tourist municipalities.
At the booth, Bike Friendly had Castelli Hotel of Zakynthos as a co-exhibitor, a loyal member known for its excellent sustainability and environmental policies, which were shared with exhibition visitors and Hosted Buyers who were seeking new partnerships and tourism information about Greece.
The Bike Forum 2022 was also highly successful, aiming to become an annual institution for Bike Friendly, bringing together its members—municipalities and hoteliers—to exchange views and best practices. The forum received a greeting from Deputy Minister of Transport Michalis Papadopoulos, who emphasized the importance of cycling and congratulated NatTour and the Bike Friendly Network for their significant contribution to promoting cycling tourism. Christina Amerikanou, Communications Officer for the DEI Cycling Tour of Greece and member of the Press Office of the Deputy Ministry of Sports, presented on “The Cycling Tour of Greece as a Pillar for Promoting Bicycles as a Means of Exercise, Transportation, and Recreation on the Agenda of the Deputy Ministry of Sports.” Vicky Karantzavelou, General Director of NatTour, presented the Bike Friendly label, and Christos Petreas, Scientific Advisor, analyzed the topic “Why We Should Target the Cycling Tourism Market – Bike Friendly Network.”
Deputy Minister of Tourism Sofia Zacharaki actively engaged in discussions with mayors from certified municipalities and attended the panel discussions and presentations on Greek mainland cycling destinations, including Mayor Yiannis Zampoukis of Alexandroupolis, Evangelos Kyriakou, Head of the Municipal Public Enterprise of Edessa, and Mayor Stelios Valianos of Aristotelis. Ms. Zacharaki emphasized, “The Ministry wants the Bike Friendly label to serve as a passport for every destination, making it more popular and attractive.” She also detailed the Ministry’s collaborations for the development of cycling tourism, highlighting that the event and the discussions are particularly important for shaping the Ministry’s actions.
The panel on Greek island cycling destinations included Deputy Mayor of Tourism Pepi Birliaki from Rethymno, Deputy Mayor of Tourism Sevi Vlachou from Kos, Mayor Theodoros Tzoumas from Skiathos, Mayor Michalis Kollias from Leros (online connection), and Deputy Mayor of Tourism Kostas Verginas from Chios.
Finally, best practices from Bike Friendly network hotels were presented, including Kallichoron Art Boutique Hotel in Astypalaia, Sali Boutique Hotel in Alexandroupolis, Castelli Hotel in Zakynthos, and Saraya Resort Hotel in Leros.
