2.1 - Reinventing regions with cycling tourism
Tracks
Thursday Schedule
| Thursday, October 1, 2026 |
| 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
| Mission 1 |
Details
Subtheme: 3. Innovation for more and better cycling (tourism)
Cycle routes often cross remote, less-developed areas, connecting them to cities, to each other, and to neighbouring countries. Cycle routes are a perfect example of regenerative tourism, as they offer a region an opportunity to reinvent itself. This session includes well-established initiatives that have changed the tourism landscape, as well as young projects that can inspire the development of cycling tourism in areas seeking a new identity.
Speaker
Ms. Silvia Casorran
Secretary General / EuroVelo Councillor
RedBici / European Cyclists' Federation
Moderator
Biography
Miklós Berencsi
Senior advisor
Active Hungary Development Centre
Sustainable Cycling on the Horizont Adventure Route
Biography
Miklós Berencsi graduated as a civil engineer and has been working in different fields of transportation. From 2013 he was working solely on cycling issues. In 2019 he joined Active Hungary Development Centre focusing on cycling tourism and EuroVelo coordination.
Ms. Mirriam Schmits
Program advisor
Stadsregio Parkstad Limburg
Bridging Borders, Connecting Hearts: discover the Parkstadroute!
Biography
Mirriam Schmits is program advisor for economics & tourism at Stadsregio Parkstad Limburg, having more than 25 years of experience in strengthening regional economic development. The Stadsregio serves 7 municipalities in the Parkstad Limburg-region, where enhancing cycle tourism is a major topic both on a regional and cross-border European scale.
Ms. Pinar Pinzuti
Director
Bikenomist
From Local Vision to EuroVelo 7: The Regional Route as a Blueprint for Multi-Level Governance
Biography
Pinar Pinzuti is a cycle tourism expert and director of the Cycle Tourism Show. As a EuroVelo Council member and UN World Bicycle Day Award winner, she promotes cycling for responsable travel. Through Bikenomist and the Women in Cycling Initiative, she advocates for inclusion and cycling for all.
Boyko Stoyanov
Chairman and Co-Founder
"black Sea Route" Association
"Black Sea Route" Tourist route - Development of cross-border cooperation for sustainable coastal tourism
Biography
Boyko Stoyanov, Chairman of the "Black Sea Route" Association, is a social entrepreneur with 15+ years in sustainable tourism. Specialized in tourist route design, sport event organization and international partnerships, coordinating stakeholders across Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey to bridge local initiatives with international standards and develop lasting tourism ecosystems.
Eriko Nishida
Representative Director of the Japan Cycle Tourism Association
Eminent Partners
Collaboration, success and challenges from the Shimanami Kaido
Biography
Eriko Nishida is Representative Director of the Japan Cycle Tourism Association and a EuroVelo route inspector. With experience in cycling tour operations, guide training, and international standards, she is helping to develop JapanVelo, Japan’s initiative inspired by the EuroVelo approach to route quality and promotion.
Mr. Etienne Leborgne
senior tourism-activ manager
INDDIGO consulting
EV6 Loire à Velo was 20 years old in 2025, link with urban/rural suburbs areas
Biography
Etienne LEBORGNE, senior active mode manager, has 30 years experience in cycling mobility. With an extensive knowledge with touristic valorization along cycleroutes, bicycle infrastructure design, facilities for cyclists. He is in a board of the national platform France Velo Tourism. EUROVELO certificate. He’s living in France and Norway along EV3
Ms. Alicia Rosette
Sustainable Tourism and Touristic Mobility projects coordinator
Tourism Federation of the Province of Luxembourg
Strengthening cross-border cooperation for sustainable and connected cycling tourism in the Ardenne destination
Biography
Project coordinator for sustainable tourism and tourist mobility at the Tourism Federation of the Province of Luxembourg. Applying her expertise to the development of two Interreg projects aimed at supporting the Ardenne destination in its sustainable transition, fostering the use of low-impact and shared modes of transport within the destination.
Mr. Jan Timmermans
Founder, Senior Consultant
Boat Bike Tours
The Case “Islandhopping by boat and bike in Croatia”
Biography
Jan Timmermans is the founder of Boat Bike Tours and currently senior adviser to the company, a tour operator specialising in multi-day cycling holidays that uses passenger ships as floating accommodation during the trips. He has played a key role in developing this travel concept over more than 40 years and is an expert in product development, business and external relations.
