SIGWAY project implementation and new EU funded project proposals - Transition Pathway for Tourism - FITUR - Definition of greenways revised in UNECE

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Dear EGWA & Greenways friends,

It is a pleasure to inform you of the recent activities of the EGWA. You will see that the start of the year has been full of activity!

One of the most demanding activities has been the implementation of the SIGWAY project, which is now entering an essential phase that is the organization of the pilot programs for physical and sports activities on greenways, which is being very challenging.

Also the presentation of two new applications for European projects linked to sustainable tourism in the month of February. The first one within a call at Single Market Programme (SMP) (previously COSME) to promote the sustainability of the greenway ecosystem, promoted by the Association and coordinated by the University of Milan, thanks to the direct involvement of the EGWA president. The second in the framework of a call of the Horizon program and related to the circular economy in tourism. In this case, EGWA participates as a partner in a general tourism project, which will thus have representation of greenways.

Likewise, we continue with the support and dissemination action for the Transition Pathway for Tourism as part of the expert group, and the implementation of the EGWA pledges, basically focused on the dissemination of best practices linked to twin transition on greenways ecosystem, and resilience.

Participation in forums of interest for the promotion of greenways, whether in fairs such as FITUR, or proposing changes in the greenways definition trough in THE PEP Expert group. In both cases they have been a great opportunity to exchange with partners and other key international stakeholders.

Below you will find more details about these activities. Enjoy the reading!

On behalf of EGWA Team
Mercedes Muñoz Zamora
EGWA Director

SIGWAY Sport in Greenways: next implementation of pilot actions on site

EGWA with the support of their members continue working on the organization of pilot activities on greenways. The pilot activities proposed by the Association are linked to cycling on greenways, and aimed at young people.

The planned activities will be carried out in Belgium, in Wallonia and Flanders, 16 and 17 March in:

Herve , in collaboration with the Maison de Turisme de Pays d'Herve ; on the RAVEL line 38, winner of the 1st European Greenways Award 2021.
Aarschot / Herentals withthe collaboration of the Province of Antwerp , and Café Welkom; on the greenway near Aarschot – Herentals

Many thanks to our members, Anne Zinnen director of the Maison De Tourisme de Pays D'Herve, and Kris Rockele, from the outdoor leisure department of the province of Antwerp for their invaluable and essential support in carrying out these actions; without their direct help its realization would not be possible.

>>Further info
The European SIGWAY project is funded by:

Project proposal on Sustainable tourism under the Single Market Programme (SMP) (previously COSME).

EGWA jointly promoted, with the University of Milan, a new project application for the Single Market Programme (SMP), formerly COSME programme, to widely improve the sustainability of the greenways ecosystem, in particular of SMEs around greenways.

The proposal is framed in the call Transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient ecosystem – empowering tourism SMEs (SMP-COSME-2023-TOURSME-01).

The Project is called IMPRESSME - IMPRoving Sustainability for greenways-linked SMEs, and has as objective to develop and implement a support system in the greenways ecosystem to greatly advance towards the sustainability of the entire ecosystem (SMEs & territories).

The project, if approved, will be coordinated by the University of Milan, thanks to the direct action of the president of the EGWA Giulio Senes; the EGWA will support overall the coordination. Project partners are great majority EGWA members.

Furhter info

EGWA partner in a European HORIZON project proposal.

The Association also participates in the call HORIZON-CL6-2024-CircBio-01-4: Systemic circular solutions for a sustainable tourism. EGWA is a partner in the project proposal, Towards a circular tourism economy in the era of social innovation, citizen engagement and co-creation, coordinated by the Technical University of Crete, experts in Circular Economy and Sustainability.

The project proposal has 20 partners -universities, public and private entities, from 10 countries; If approved, its implementation is scheduled in 48 months, with a budget of over 5 million €

Transition pathway for Tourism - Together for Tourism ( T4T)

Active participation in the Together4Tourism expert group, promoted by the European Commission, within the “Green” subgroup, continues.

EGWA has also contributed with comments to the draft report of the Transition pathway stock-taking exercise 2023, prepared at the technical level. Comments were focus to request greater visibility for cycle tourism, as a particularly important tourist activity with a clear upward trend, and for rural tourism, through which many of the greenways run.

The final document will be presented at an event organized by the EC in Brussels, to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the Transition Pathway for Tourism on 15 March 2024 reflecting on past achievements and future developments of the tourism ecosystem, and showcasing inspiring pledges submitted by stakeholders.

The event will take place in Brussels be livestreamed on Webex.
Further info

FITUR

The Greenways have had a strong presence at FITUR, and it has been a great opportunity to meet with EGWA members and key international stakeholders.

Sustainability has been one of the main axes of FITUR with an intense agenda of activities for debate, information on the latest publications and good practices. Of particular relevance was the UNWO session to follow-up of the agreements of the Glasgow Declaration: download report here .
This major international forum allowed for direct exchanges with the heads of the main tourism organisations promoting sustainable tourism, UNWTO, ECF, Lonely Planet guides, press, in order to further promote greenways.

Further info

Definition of greenways revised in UNECE

The EGWA presented a proposal to modify the definition of greenways to UNECE, to better reflect the reality of what greenways are.

This is the latest proposal included in the Unece documents, that takes up the proposal of the association:

Greenway:
A greenway is an independent road designated for non-motorized users, including pedestrians and cyclists, signposted as such. Its use might be open to other non-motorized users, for example horseback riders, if signed as such or defined in the national legislation.

The new definition will contribute to the greater consideration of greenways internationally and the great asset their represent as safe, user friendly infrastructures for cycling and walking, and thus their great benefits for health

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed with their support to the modification of the definition proposed by the EGWA, in particular to the members of the ECF, and the Spanish Minister of transport in the Expert group of the Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP)

>> Further info

This is all thanks to our members!

The European Greenways Association (EGWA) encourages the creation and promotion of greenways in Europe, for active mobility, sustainable tourism, and healthy leisure; for all types of users and better quality of life.

www.aevv-egwa.org

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