Cycle tourism roadshow

We promote cycle tourism and sustainable everyday travel chains

Project Duration

1.9.2026 – 31.12.2028

Source of Funding

European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

Total Funding

€122,305.83

The Cycle Tourism Road Show project promotes cycle tourism and sustainable everyday travel chains from the cyclist’s perspective. The project brings together municipalities, developers, businesses, and associations to improve cycling conditions and services for cycle tourists in rural areas. Its goal is to share information—identified in previous projects—regarding the key development needs of cycle tourists and everyday cyclists with municipalities, businesses, and stakeholders in the fields of cycle tourism and transport development.

The project is implemented by Valonia/Regional Council of Southwest Finland and Turku University of Applied Sciences. It runs from September 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028. The operational area covers Southwest Finland, with the inclusion of Satakunta for Work Package 1.

The project deepens cooperation, co-creation, and dialogue among regional and municipal development organizations in Southwest Finland and Satakunta by establishing an informal network. These development and tourism organizations share common interests that can be advanced more effectively through collaboration; from the perspective of cycling tourists, the area functions as a single tourism destination.

The project’s most extensive component is the “Road Show,” which provides guidance and training to businesses, municipalities, and other stakeholders at locations close to them. The Road Show is a series of events organized in collaboration with local stakeholders, taking activities directly to smaller localities.

In addition, a practical model is being developed to enable rural municipalities and local tourism operators to utilize existing visitor data in their planning and development work. This model will be piloted on a cycling tourism route in Southwest Finland, and a set of guidelines will be produced so that other municipalities can apply the approach independently after the project concludes.

The project’s target groups include municipalities, municipal development and tourism organizations, local entrepreneurs and associations, and other regional tourism stakeholders. The beneficiaries include tourists, residents, municipalities, local entrepreneurs and associations, as well as tourism and development organizations.