Speech at the event of the Municipality of Kos on the presentation of a study for the development of cycling tourism was addressed by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, responsible for Transport, K. Michalis Papadopoulos.
Mr.. Papadopoulos stressed that the use of bicycles is an element of the daily life of the residents of Kos, which for decades has welcomed groups of tourists who enjoy the special cycling routes of the island.
As stated by the Deputy Minister of Transport:
"In Kos there are 6,5 thousands of bicycles for rent and this is the comparative advantage of the island, on the subject of cycling tourism. The culture in favor of cycling and micro-mobility is the infrastructure on which the further development of this activity can be built..
We experience, at the same time, climate change and the use of mild means of transport is one of the ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the transport sector.
In many parts of Europe, such as Scandinavia, which has a long friendship with the Dodecanese, there is a trend in green tourism. The Visitor, that is,, chooses to travel by environmentally friendly means, but also to reach a destination that will give him the feeling that he respects the environment. Kos can offer all this, by vehicle the bicycle. "
Mr.. Papadopoulos reminded that recently, in collaboration with the Deputy Minister of Tourism Mrs. Sofia Zacharaki, The creation of a National Coordination Center for EuroVelo in Greece was approved, with the aim of promoting cycling tourism.
About, Mr.. Papadopoulos stressed:
"Greece currently has three European cycling routes and our ambition is for Kos to join the Eurovelo network., as it meets all the conditions: the plain relief, many roads with low speed limit and traffic load and above all, the special interest of many routes.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has the will to offer know-how and support in this effort so that Kos becomes the island of the bicycle.
I have expressed the same will for my particular homeland, Western Macedonia, which is also suitable for bicycle use, with similar characteristics: the plain relief of Ptolemaida, the idyllic lakeside area of Lake Polyphytos and the beauties of Kozani ".
The study for the development of the bicycle in Kos included specific proposals that mainly concerned: in highlighting the existing cycling infrastructure of the island, their organization on marked routes and their expansion, the creation of dirt paths to highlight the mountain mass, as well as the creation of suburban routes to then join Eurovelo. It was stressed, also, the need to prepare a plan to promote this tourism product in Greece and abroad.
Mr.. Papadopoulos added, end, that the support of tourism services is a field that is supported by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in many ways and synergies with the Local Government and the Professional Bodies.
He cited as an example the amendment introduced to the law on the new framework for driving license examinations, with which the South Aegean Region is the first in Greece that allows the right to register 7-seater - 9-seater taxis, in order to pilot its operation.
