Inclusive Border Cycling Presented at the Global Summit on Accessible Tourism

Invited by the organisors through the Joint Secretariat of the Danube Region Programme, the Inclusive Border Cycling (IBC) project was presented at the 3rd Global Summit on Accessible Tourism in Turin on 5–7 October 2025. The project was featured through a poster compiled by the Interact programme and was introduced in short personal conversations with interested participants.

What We Shared About IBC

During the Summit, we highlighted that IBC aimed to promote social inclusion and sustainable tourism by strengthening cultural and natural heritage along cycling routes in disadvantaged and remote border areas of the Danube region. The project addressed challenges linked to demographic change, social vulnerability and uneven tourism infrastructure.

We explained that IBC developed community-driven cycling trails that actively involved vulnerable local groups—such as elderly people and marginalised communities—to create more attractive and competitive cycling tourism offers. The project also worked on transnational marketing approaches targeting tourists interested in socially responsible and community-based travel.       

We also presented the development of targeted tourism packages tailored to the needs of elderly and younger generations, providing comfortable, enjoyable and more accessible cycling experiences.

The Danube Cycling Storyportal

A key element shared at the Summit was the upcoming Danube Cycling Storyportal, a digital platform designed to showcase stories, heritage, landscapes and local producers along border cycling routes in the Danube Region. Through stories and an interactive map, the platform aims to help visitors design their own journeys along transborder trails such as the Iron Curtain Trail, Amazon of Europe Bike Trail and the Danube Cycle Path, while promoting social inclusion and sustainable tourism.

Value of Participating in the Summit

Although the participation was not a major milestone for the project, being present at the Summit offered a useful opportunity to:

• Briefly raise awareness of IBC among professionals working on accessibility and inclusive tourism.

• Learn about new accessibility solutions, tools and approaches relevant to tourism services and infrastructure.

• Exchange ideas with organisations committed to inclusive tourism from different parts of the world.

These insights had the potential to inform future work within the project and inspire practical ways to improve inclusivity in border cycling tourism across the Danube region.