On 4 June 2025, the MONA (Model Nature Areas) project hosted its third capacity-building webinar titled “Improving Accessibility and Reducing Negative Impacts on the Local Environment through Routing.” As part of the Interreg NWE programme, MONA seeks to promote sustainable tourism and mobility in and around nature areas across Europe. The webinar gathered experts and stakeholders to explore best practices in sustainable access and route planning, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas.
A highlight of the event was the presentation by Agathe Daudibon, Director of EuroVelo and Cycling Tourism at the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), who introduced the ICTr-CE project—Innovative Participatory Sustainable Business Model for Cycling along the Iron Curtain Trail.
Funded by the Interreg Central Europe Programme and coordinated by Westpannon (HU), ICTr-CE involves 12 partners from nine countries and runs from March 2023 to February 2026. Daudibon presented the project’s core aim: to co-create a sustainable and inclusive tourism product along EuroVelo 13, the Iron Curtain Trail, through the development of a participatory business model. This model includes a booking platform to facilitate cross-border travel, encourages SME cooperation across regions, and supports capacity building through training and mentoring programmes.
Key achievements shared included:
- Development of a CO₂ footprint calculator and an impact measurement system (IMS) to evaluate environmental, social, and economic outcomes of cycling tourism;
- The establishment of two booking centres (Austria and Slovenia);
- Organisation of exploratory tours in pilot regions;
- Launch of a Good Impact Valorisation Programme;
- Creation of comprehensive guidelines for pilot actions and their implementation.
In its final project year, ICTr-CE is focusing on refining its outputs, implementing pilot actions, and formalising long-term strategies such as the ICTr Alliance and a Sustainability and Transferability Plan to ensure the applicability of its results to other EuroVelo routes.
The presentation underscored the transformative potential of inclusive and sustainable cycling tourism, especially in rural and cross-border areas. The presentation provided attendees with a concrete example of how strategic partnerships and innovative tools can enhance both accessibility and environmental responsibility in nature-based tourism.