The 2025 edition of the EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference took place in Balatonfüred, Hungary, from September 24 to 26, 2025.
The conference was the annual gathering of stakeholders from the cycling and tourism sectors, providing a platform for discussion and exchange on recent developments and ideas related to cycling tourism, EuroVelo, and cycle route networks. The 2025 edition was co-hosted by the European Cyclists’ Federation, the Hungarian Cycling Tourism Association, the Centre for Development of Active and Ecotourism, Active Hungary, and the City of Balatonfüred.
The theme of the EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference 2025 was Cycling towards a sustainable future. The event examined cycling through the sustainability lens and focused on its many economic and social benefits. Environmental sustainability was another key topic, addressing the question of whether it was possible to combine nature protection and climate change mitigation with an increase in cycling levels.
Dr. Ioannis Pappas, GSTC Program Director of the Mediterranean Region, participated in the event and contributed perspectives on how global sustainability standards can guide destinations and stakeholders in developing responsible cycling tourism, connecting local communities, and creating authentic, low-impact experiences.
“Cycling tourism is a clear pathway to advance climate action in tourism, reduce emissions, and connect visitors with local communities in authentic ways. To make this potential real, we must ensure transparency, which requires credible, third-party certification schemes to verify sustainability practices. By integrating cycling into sustainable tourism strategies through both bottom-up and top-down approaches, and by respecting each destination’s unique characteristics, cycling tourism can truly inspire behavioural change and drive long-term sustainability,” says Dr. Pappas.
The EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference 2025 aimed to bring together the international community to reflect and exchange ideas on common challenges, threats, and opportunities related to sustainability, with a special focus on EuroVelo and cycle route networks.
