How did the Vías Verdes become
a fully-fledged tourism product in 30 years?

Marjan Gielen and Marion Hoogwegt have been doing presentations on the ‘Vías Verdes’ (Greenways) at the Fiets en Wandelbeurs for five years now. At the IBTC they will dig deeper into what these 3000 kilometres of routes over old railway lines have contributed to the domestic tourism in the regions of Andalusia and Catalonia over the last 30 years, which new initiatives have come about because of this, and how these routes became a fully-fledged tourist attraction in 2024.

Marjan Gielen & family at the Val de Zafán and Vías Verde Ruta del Tren Petit

Marjan, a strategic marketing professional and owner of Destinationmakers, cycled along the Vía Verde route Val de Zafán with her family in 2018 and became an enthusiast immediately. As she cycled, she developed the idea of doing more with the routes, so she could tell the story of the region.  
Six years later, she worked for several regions in the Netherlands and beyond, using cycling and walking routes to create new concepts to tell the stories to visitors in a creative way. Also see the introduction video.

Marion Hoogwegt on the Vías Verdes in Andalucia

Marion is a storyteller by nature, who has lived in Spain for more than 35 years and was immediately enthusiastic about co-operation. You can read about her love of Spain and sustainable travel on her blogsite MaXperience and in her latest book, ‘Duurzaam door Spanje’ (Sustainably through Spain). She works with various regions to promote less well-known routes and destinations and is co-owner of spanjemagazine.net with cycling and walking tips. As a journalist, Marion is always on the lookout for good tales to be set down in an authentic way.
 

Breakout session at the IBTC 

They wish to deepen their knowledge and experience with the Vías Verdes and share this with the participants at the IBTC:“On February 13, we will drill down further in the breakout sessions* into how you can make routes like the Vías Verdes into a fully-fledged tourism package, and how a long-term commitment is crucial to the success of a route or network or not (due to lack of commitment). 

We hope to meet you at the IBTC on February 13th. and share with you our enthusiasm for the Vías Verdes. Till then!”

  (*) There will be six breakout sessions at the IBTC in the afternoon of Feb. 13th. Times to follow.
 

Enrol now for the IBTC and register before November 1 to take advantage of the very attractive Early Bird Discount (25% off)