Cycling Routes

DMOs that promote cycling routes are giving visitors the chance to experience destinations responsibly, one pedal stroke at a time.

Cycling routes are powerful tools for promoting responsible travel. They encourage visitors to slow down, travel at a human pace, and explore regions in ways that reduce carbon impact while dispersing benefits to smaller communities. 

DMOs can turn cycling routes into meaningful tourism products. By promoting them on official platforms, providing resources for travelers, and highlighting connections to local culture and landscapes, DMOs can lead the shift toward more sustainable and responsible visitor behavior.

Visit Luxembourg: Hiking Without Borders

Visit Luxembourg highlights transnational exploration with its “Hiking Without Borders” route, which takes visitors across Luxembourg, Germany, and France. By showcasing landscapes where political borders fade, the DMO frames the experience as one of cultural exchange, natural immersion, and cross-border cooperation. Through its website, Visit Luxembourg not only maps the route but also emphasizes its responsible travel value: encouraging visitors to hike and cycle rather than drive, while discovering regional gastronomy and heritage along the way.

Visit Moselle: Cycling the Wine Country

Visit Moselle actively promotes cycling routes as a way to experience the region’s vineyards, river landscapes, and wine-making villages. On its website, the DMO provides detailed descriptions of trails ranging from easy riverside paths for families to challenging mountain bike routes through vineyards. By presenting cycling as both safe and accessible (through bike rentals), Visit Moselle normalizes biking as the primary mode of exploration. This positions the DMO as a driver of responsible travel, reducing reliance on cars while channeling visitors toward authentic local experiences such as winery visits and cultural landmarks.

Trier Tourismus Und Marketing: Cycling Trails

Trier Tourismus Und Marketing (Trier Tourism And Marketing) offers a comprehensive digital guide for their various cycling trails designed to make responsible exploration easy. The website details a variety of cycling itineraries provided by local tour operators. By promoting access to e-bikes, city bikes, and children’s bikes, the DMO removes barriers for travelers who might not bring their own equipment. This encourages visitors to replace car-based sightseeing with environmentally friendly alternatives, while making the experience accessible to a broader audience.

Tips for DMOs

Cycling routes can anchor a responsible travel strategy when promoted effectively. 

• Promote active travel options. Use official platforms to spotlight cycling and hiking as the preferred ways to experience the destination, highlighting both environmental and cultural benefits.
• Provide practical resources. Offer maps, route descriptions, and clear information about bike rentals or public transport connections, making sustainable choices the easiest ones for travelers.
• Highlight cultural connections. Frame routes as pathways to authentic experiences to strengthen traveler engagement while dispersing tourism benefits.
• Normalize responsible behavior. Encourage respect for landscapes and local traditions by embedding responsible travel messages into route descriptions, tips, and promotional campaigns.

When DMOs take an active role in promoting cycling routes, they shape how visitors move through a destination. By providing information, resources, and inspiration, they not only make cycling routes visible but also turn them into gateways for responsible, low-impact, and memorable travel experiences.