Radtourismus in Rheinhessen is being repositioned.

The "Hiworld tours" have it done: If the quality of the offer is right, the success comes. The demand last year and this year has rewarded the consistent focus on the quality of roads and signage. It is no coincidence that the tourism strategy of Rheinhessen, passed last year, made the realignment of cycle tourism one of the seven leading projects in 2025. That means for Rheinhessen tourism: the infrastructure has to be put to the test, has to be optimized or expanded, before new funds flow into marketing. All this should be coordinated with the municipalities and be sustainably secured. A basic cycle tourism concept should absorb all threads and connect them meaningfully.

As part of a LEADER project, Rheinhessen-Touristik is now taking on the realignment of cycling tourism in Rheinhessen and receiving external support for this. The contract for the joint development of a cycle tourism development plan for the region went to BTE Tourismus- & Regionalberatung in Berlin. From the new office location in Mainz, an interdisciplinary team is now working on the concept for the future of cycling tourism in Rheinhessen.

Coordinated strategy for sustainable project development instead of individual actions

The aim of the development plan is to create a basis for action to consistently orient and develop the biking tourism offer on the basis of competition. The combination of cycling with hiking, wine and culture is an important concern. In addition, a model for financing and quality assurance of route management and marketing should be designed. The basis is the tourist cycle path network of about 550 km and eight theme bike paths.

The Managing Director of Rheinhessen-Touristik GmbH, Christian Halbig, is convinced of the benefits of the project for tourism development: "The professionalization of cycling tourism in Rheinhessen follows clear strategic objectives and is therefore the logical next step to make the region more competitive and consistent to meet the needs of the target audience. "

Important for Rheinhessen-Touristik GmbH is the view over the borders of the region. Finally, the current network of cycle paths extends into the Palatinate, the Naheland and the Romantic Rhine. Therefore, the tourism and local action groups (LAGs) of the neighboring destinations will be involved in the process.

schedule

By August, BTE will start the competition analysis for cycling tourism in Rheinhessen and present first results. Thereafter, the know-how of the region is needed to get the most out of the process for the future of cycling tourism in Rheinhessen.

The kick-off for the joint kick-off in the region marks a kick-off event on 23 August this year. To this the cycle path managers of the administrations and the tourism experts from Rheinhessen, as well as the representatives of the neighboring destinations and cooperating LAGen are invited and informed about the procedure, the goals and responsibilities in the project.

By the summer of 2019, the development plan should be launched in close cooperation with the municipalities and local tourism of Rheinhessen and the neighboring destinations. Steering groups will be set up to work on the most important topics, the results of which then flow into the concept.

More information can be found at www.rheinhessen.de/radtouristischer-entwicklungsplan