On Friday, November 15, 2024, during the international travel fair “Philoxenia” in Thessaloniki, Greece, NATTOUR AMKE will host the 4th annual Bike Friendly Forum at the “Nikolaos Germanos” Convention Center, Hall B, at 11am. This event aims to promote cycling tourism and sustainable mobility in Greece, bringing together key players from tourism organizations, hotel executives, accommodation providers, and representatives from visitor attractions, cycling companies and travel agencies involved in cycling and alternative-thematic tourism activities, to discuss practical insights and collaboration opportunities within this emerging tourism niche.

Opening Remarks

The forum will begin with opening remarks from esteemed representatives of major tourism organizations:

• Hellenic Association of Tourism and Travel Agencies, President Mr. Nikos Kelaiditis
• Thessaloniki Hoteliers Association, Board Member Ms. Eleni Papia

Presentations

The program includes two key presentations:

1. “Sustainable Mobility, Cycling Tourism, and the Bike Friendly Label” presented by Ms. Vicky Karantzavelou, General Director of NatTour.
2. “Ethical Cycling Routes – The Ethic Up Label” delivered by Ms. Chrysa Argyrakaki, co-founder and managing partner of Common Future and a member of the Ethic Up evaluation committee.

Panel Discussions

The forum will feature three panel discussions with leading industry stakeholders and experts:

1. Cycling-Friendly Cities in Greece – Bike Friendly Destinations
   This session will showcase Greek destinations working to foster cycling-friendly environments. Speakers will include representatives from the municipalities and destinations of Skiathos, Edessa, Alexandroupoli, Pieria, Chios and Aristotelis.
2. Hotels, Wineries, and Cycling
   Focusing on practical applications in hotels and visitor attractions, this session will explore how cycling tourism can be incorporated into sustainable hospitality practices. Participants include representatives from hotels Quattro Suites, Kallichoron Art Boutique Hotel, Ananti Resort & Spa, Sali Boutique Hotel and winery Ktima Kir-Yianni.
3. Travel agencies and Cycling Companies
   This discussion will highlight service practices from cycling companies and travel agencies, providing insights into themed tourism offerings. Participants include Ticket2Ride, BikeIT, AURELIA e-assist BIKES, and Higher Than Everest.

The forum underscores Greece’s commitment to sustainable tourism development, in alignment with the national tourism policy promoting eco-friendly transportation options such as cycling. The “Bike Friendly” label not only supports this policy but also aligns with the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies increasingly adopted by businesses in the tourism sector.

Moderated by Mr. Theodoros Koumelis, the 4th Bike Friendly Forum is set to provide a valuable platform for networking and knowledge sharing among tourism professionals, showcasing the latest trends in cycling tourism and green mobility across Greece.

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