Nerja is quickly becoming a popular destination for sustainable travel, and one of the major initiatives undertaken by the town is the cycling tourism project. This project, which was presented at the recent FITUR International Tourism Exhibition in Madrid, is a collaboration between the Town Hall, the Councillor for Tourism, Gema García, and the manager of the company Cycling Friendly, Matías Ximelis.
The cycling tourism project aims to promote Nerja as a destination for nature and sports tourism, specifically for cyclists.
“From today, Nerja is committed to being a municipality that is a friend of nature and cycling lovers,” said the councillor, stressing that Nerja has extraordinary conditions for the practice of this sustainable sport linked to nature. “Cycling enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enjoy ten mountain and road routes of varying difficulty and altimetry through our two protected natural areas, the Natural Park of the Sierras de Tejeda, Alhama and Almijara and the Natural Park of the Cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo, and surrounding municipalities”.
The project includes a variety of actions, such as the distribution of specialized information in the form of route catalogues, cycle tourism maps, and a landing page on a specialized portal where visitors can learn about all the options for lodging, restaurants, and services. Nerja will have QR code signage so that cyclists can download the information to their mobile devices and enjoy the unique opportunities that this destination provides. Finally, promotional activities will be conducted at international tourism trade shows and industry events.
José Alberto Armijo also encouraged Nerja’s tourism business sector to participate in this project, which has already gained the support of several local accomodation companies, and is confident that it will have a significant impact on the promotion of tourism in Nerja, both in terms of sustainability and environmental and sporting aspects.
The cycling tourism project is not only good for the environment but also for business, as it helps to deseasonalize tourism in Nerja. By promoting the town as a destination for nature and sports tourism, Nerja hopes to attract visitors year-round, rather than just during peak tourist season.
Overall, Nerja’s cycling tourism project is a great example of how a town can promote sustainable tourism while also diversifying its tourism offering.
The Town Hall’s commitment to nature and sports tourism, and the collaboration with the company Cycling Friendly, will help to make Nerja a more attractive destination for sustainable travelers and will also help to create new job opportunities in the town.