On Wednesday 26 February 2025, during the Convention of Marshals held in Kraków, an agreement was signed between the Polish Tourism Organisation and the Association of Voivodeships of the Republic of Poland (ZWRP) regarding cooperation within the National EuroVelo Coordination Centre (NECC). The event was attended by the State Secretary at the Ministry of Sport and Tourism, Piotr Borys; the Marshal of the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship and President of the ZWRP Board, Olgierd Geblewicz; the Marshal of the Małopolskie Voivodeship, Łukasz Smółka; the President of the Polish Tourism Organisation, Rafał Szmytke; and the President of the Małopolska Tourism Organisation, Grzegorz Biedroń.

 

This event is of great importance for the development of cycling tourism in Poland.

The establishment of the National EuroVelo Coordination Centre in Poland is a key step towards increasing Poland’s visibility as an attractive destination on the European cycling tourism map, accelerating the implementation of cycling routes, and improving their quality.

Piotr Borys emphasised the great importance of tourism to Poland’s GDP and pointed out the necessity of introducing systemic solutions aimed at promoting Poland as a safe and modern tourist destination, including cycling tourism. Meanwhile, Rafał Szmytke highlighted the immense value of active tourism for Poland, which is closely linked to the crucial issue of sustainable tourism development and aligns well with the rapidly growing global trend of cycling tourism.

 EuroVelo is the most popular network of cycling routes, attracting tourists from around the world. By joining the network, Poland will become part of the group of countries actively engaged in managing and developing the EuroVelo network, opening up new opportunities for tourism and sustainable mobility. This will position Poland as an important hub on the European cycling tourism map.

 The creation of the NECC will facilitate the promotion of cycling routes at an international level through tools and media provided by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), such as the EuroVelo website, up-to-date route information, and promotion in ECF newsletters. This will increase Poland’s attractiveness as a cycling tourism destination. Additionally, Poland will gain access to European expertise and advisory services from ECF experts and will participate in key decision-making processes concerning the development of the entire EuroVelo network. Countries that establish National EuroVelo Coordination Centers achieve better results in developing cycling infrastructure.

 The Polish Tourism Organisation will be responsible for the overall coordination of activities resulting from the agreement, including the promotion and marketing of EuroVelo routes domestically and internationally; maintaining and updating a database of EuroVelo routes in Poland; collaborating with government institutions, local governments, businesses and NGOs to develop high-quality EuroVelo routes; supporting cycling infrastructure development and the promotion of cycling mobility; and facilitating services dedicated to cyclists, such as cyclist-friendly services and tourism reservation systems. It will also cover the membership fee.

 The Association of Voivodeships of the Republic of Poland will act as an advisory and support body, primarily through its Cycling Mobility Coordination Team. Its tasks will include monitoring the progress of EuroVelo route implementation in Poland; ensuring the appropriate standards and signage of EuroVelo routes; and cooperating with public transport service providers to enhance facilities for cyclists and improve cycling infrastructure.

EuroVelo, as a European network of long-distance cycling routes, integrates various countries and cultures, creating a unique cycling tourism product with enormous promotional and economic potential.

 The network includes 17 long-distance cycling routes connecting all of Europe, covering a total of over 90,000 km. Poland is a part of this network, with 4,358 km of EuroVelo routes spanning the country. These routes allow cyclists to travel across different countries, supporting the sustainable development of tourism and transportation. The EuroVelo routes passing through Poland include:

 

EV 2 – Capitals Route

 

EV 4 – Central Europe Route

 

EV 9 – Baltic–Adriatic Route

 

EV 10 – Baltic Sea Cycle Route

 

EV 11 – East Europe Route

 

EV 13 – Iron Curtain Trail