Joint development of cross-border cycling tourism along Eurovelo 13

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Hungary Serbia

Date of latest update: 2025-10-28

Description

Description (EN):

The project’s overall objective is in line with Programme objectives as it focuses on economic development and social prosperity through a healthy and sustainable approach to tourism that will also positively affect social and territorial cohesion in the region. Cycling has a privileged position within active tourism. It is popular not only as a leisure time tourism activity but also as an eco-friendly means of transport. Cycling is becoming a trend due to the positive mental and physical health benefits for tourists, as well as for local population. In addition, it positively affects the greenhouse emission in the border region, which is a considerable issue due to the massive car-traffic and long waiting periods at the border crossings. OPTI-BIKE 3 recognizes EuroVelo13 as a tool for attracting cycling tourists to the area, connecting the local values and presenting them to the visitors not only on the main route, but also offering alternative options and detours, ultimately contributing to increasing visitor numbers. The project focuses on potentials provided by cycling not just as a sustainable way of transport, but also as an opportunity for a healthy, environmental-friendly and socially inclusive form of tourism.OPTI-BIKE 3 targets the EV13 section on the Hungarian side of the border entering Bács-Kiskun County at Nagybaracska all the way to the Municipality of Tompa and the section that passes to Serbia through Subotica/Palić/Hajdukovo/Bački Vinogradi and back to the Hungarian border. The project area offers a blend of cultural, historical, and natural attractions, making it appealing to various types of tourists. OPTI-BIKE 3 will promote the region's cultural and nature protection events, festivals, and architectural heritage. Outdoor activities such as cycling, birdwatching, and hiking will also be promoted to attract adventure and nature enthusiasts. The project is a continuance of previously completed successful projects of the same partnership, the OPTI-BIKE project series. OPTI-BIKE 1 and 2 addressed the need for cycle paths by developing the cross-border bicycle network. OPTI-BIKE 3 represents the next stage of the project series, this time molding the infrastructural developments into a new cross-border tourism brand and connecting it with the existing tourism potentials of the largest European bicycle network (EV13) to support cycling tourism in Europe, and specifically in HU-SRB border region. OPTI-BIKE 3 aims to: 1. Develop a sustainable cross-border cycling tourism brand and product that will increase income from tourism, 2. Implement a joint marketing campaign for the OPTI-BIKE brand and product through a mobile application, event series (festivals in HU and SRB and cross-border cycling tour), a promo film, brochure and promo materials. 3. Construct bicycle paths in the EV13 spectrum with supporting bicycle services (bicycle service points, pit-stops with interactive info panels and tourist information boards).

Expected Achievements (EN):

Cycling is one of the most sustainable tourism forms. It is an eco-friendly transport mode, positively affecting the greenhouse emission in the border region, which is a considerable issue due to the massive car-traffic and long waiting periods at the border crossings. Cycling has positive mental and physical health benefits for tourists, as well as for local population. Also, tourism is an endless product; capitalization concerns revenue generated by visitors, and the positive effect on the country’s economy. Revenue enters the bloodstream of the economy and in the meantime generates more income, consequently, multiplying. As a result, cycling tourism improves the economic indicators and income for local service providers. The completed market and capacity research of service providers will be useful for future initiatives. The created brand and tourism product is a 1st step in developing more cycling tourism products in the future. The constructed bicycle paths, and supportive services, will also continue to generate results in the long term. Additionally to EV13, the project will enable access to European metropols, as by 2025, a high-speed railway between Belgrade and Budapest will be built that will pass through Subotica, making the city the most important railway junction in Vojvodina. Cyclists from all over Europe, Budapest, Belgrade and Novi Sad will be able to travel to Subotica by train in a matter of few hours. Bike rental will also be available if needed. RESULT1: Tourism product focusing on cross-border bicycle tourism along EV13 OUTPUTS: Market analysis and data collection, OPTI BIKE cycling tourism brand and product RESULT2: Joint marketing management of OPTI BIKE tourism product. OUTPUTS: Mobile application, Bicycle Pit Stops with Interactive Boards(2), Service points(5), Info Boards(5), Tourist counters(4), Festivals(2), Cross-border Cycling Tour. RESULT3: Improved cross-border bicycle road network, OUTPUTS: Constructed bicycle route in HU and SRB.

Thematic information

Health and social services Transport and mobility Community integration and common identity

Type of intervention: 083 Cycling infrastructure

Partners (2)

Lead Partner: Grad Subotica

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 100206

Address: Trg slobode 1, 24000 Subotica, Serbia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.subotica.rs/

Total budget: EUR 1 399 196.64

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 1 189 317.14

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 209 879.50

Contractors:

Name: Cromnik-Proworld Agency
VAT registration or tax identification number: 102376945

Tompa Város Önkormányzata

Name: Tompa Város Önkormányzata

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 100185

Address: Szabadság tér 3, 6422 Tompa, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.tompa.hu/

Total budget: EUR 949 803.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 807 332.55

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 142 470.45

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Tompa Város Önkormányzata

Joint development of cross-border cycling tourism along Eurovelo 13

Partners and Projects info

City of Subotica

Joint development of cross-border cycling tourism along Eurovelo 13

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Joint development of cross-border cycling tourism along Eurovelo 13

Project acronym: OPTI-BIKE 3

Project ID: HUSRB/23R/22/067

Project start date: 2024-09-01

Project end date: 2026-08-31

Project status: ongoing

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 348 999.64

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 996 649.69

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 85.00%

Co-financing sources:

IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 1 996 649.69. Co-financing rate, 85.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUSDR: Contribution to all 7 targets of PA3 and to Target 6 of PA1B of the EUSDR.
EUSAIR: Pillar 4-Sustainable Tourism- enhancing the sustainable and responsible tourism capacities of the tourism actors across the macro-region.
EV Strategy 2030: Objective 1: Increase levels of cycling, bringing environmental, health and social benefits, 3. Support the development of a sustainable tourism sector.
HU:
NATIONAL TOURISM STRATEGY 2030: Priority goal: 1. Improving supporting services to cycling tourists, 2. Expand the marketing to the online space. 3. Horizontal goals: Family-friendly and Digital tourism.
EV13 INTERNATIONAL CYCLING ROUTE BÁCS-KISKUN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: Utilize EV13 for sustainable mobility and sustainable tourism.
BÁCS KISKUN COUNTY CYCLING STRATEGY: Strategic goal:1. Ensure accessibility and connectivity to attractions, 2. Support a healthy society, 4. Reduce the negative effects on the environment. Overall goal: Preserve the popularity of cycling by improving conditions.
SRB:
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN RS 2016-2025: Subotica/Palić is a main tourism destination with potential for thematic routes, active tourism and tourism event organization. One main priority: improve tourist infrastructure and superstructure (construction and arrangement of bicycle paths and thematic routes).
DEVELOPMENT PLAN AP VOJVODINA 2023-2030: Goal 4.1: Sustainable tourism in intercultural Vojvodina: Development of accessible and green tourist infrastructure in Vojvodina
VOJVODINA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 2023 -2025: Priority: Development of tourism infrastructure and superstructure for cycling tourism, and harmonization of the tourist offer with modern trends and new tourist products;
DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF SUBOTICA 2023 – 2032: Dev. direction 2: Development of infrastructure and protection of environment, Priority 3: Functional infrastructure for quality life, Dev. direction 3. Local economic dev.: Priority 4: Increasing the volume and level of the tourist offer.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
RCO 077 - Number of cultural and tourism sites supported, Measurement unit:
RCO 115 - Public events across borders jointly organised, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 077 - Visitors of cultural and tourism sites supported, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Hungary Serbia

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-28

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

59 / 59 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

152 / 152 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Joint development of cross-border cycling tourism along Eurovelo 13

Description

Thematic information

Partners (2)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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