The Municipality of Aristotelis in Halkidiki is the first Bike Friendly destination in Greece

The Municipality of Aristotelis has received the certification label for services, structures, and infrastructure supporting cycling tourism (Bike Friendly) following the creation of 13 hiking and cycling routes. These routes are scheduled to be officially presented to the public during a four-day event from March 26 to March 30, 2020. During this period, an international trekking trip will take place, where European trekking & cycling specialists are expected to explore sections of these routes, both in the mountainous and coastal areas of the Municipality. This initiative is organized by the GNTO offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland, along with many local stakeholders and tourism entrepreneurs.

The acquisition of the label signifies that the destination, as well as several of its accommodations, meet nine quality criteria, which serve as a foundation for familiarizing potential cyclists with the area—whether they visit with their own bikes or rent one from local businesses.

The entire Municipality of Aristotelis, naturally situated on the green foothills of three mountains protected by the European Natura 2000 agreement, along with a 300 km hilly coastline, is ideal for cycling. This mild human activity takes place in environmentally suitable destinations for tours and getaways.

This initiative builds on previous efforts by local tourism and professional stakeholders, who for years have laid the groundwork for creating and promoting an exceptional alternative tourism product—promising for the parallel (non-mining) development of the entire region of Eastern Halkidiki.

Cycling events, the preparation of cycling teams, and the attraction of specialized visitor groups are key goals for the Municipality and local entrepreneurs, who are united in their collective development efforts by:

• Operating strictly with professional standards,
• Shaping identities for the products offered, and
• Following strategic planning flows that have proven highly effective in upgrading the area’s tourism sector.

As an initial highlight, it is worth mentioning that from May 22 to 24, 2020, the Municipality of Aristotelis will host part of the UCI Macedonian Granfondo, an event featuring long-distance cycling races for European amateur cyclists with or without licenses. The focus of this year’s event will be Ierissos and its surrounding areas.

Furthermore, the cycling program of Eastern Halkidiki, titled “From Holomontas to Aristotelian Mountain and Mount Athos,” which will be linked with the corresponding program of Mount Pangaio, is being systematically promoted to specialized European tourism agencies and cycling federations. The aim is for this structured product to serve as a reason and method for networking the area with similar regions worldwide.

The Bike Friendly label has been in operation since 2016, managed by the non-profit organization NATTOUR in collaboration with the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature. Given that NATTOUR has certified nearly 100 tourism businesses across Greece, the Municipality of Aristotelis and its partners are preparing a special familiarization trip for representatives of already certified Greek tourism agencies involved in this innovative effort.

Republished from TravelDailyNews.