On Thursday, April 2, 2026, a workshop dedicated to cross-border cycle tourism between Italy and Slovenia was held in Gorizia at the GO! Center. The event was organized by the EGTC GO as part of the BorderLabs CE project.

The meeting focused in particular on territorial integration, services for cycle tourism, and sector development strategies, aiming to strengthen cooperation between the two countries and to enhance the potential of the cross-border area. The workshop brought together Italian and Slovenian stakeholders, providing a platform for sharing experiences, gathering input, and co-designing innovative solutions for sustainable tourism development based on cycling and inter-territorial connectivity.

Participants were divided into two working groups, addressing problems and finding possible solutions to some key issues regarding cycle tourism between Italy and Slovenia.

The first group, focused on transport and infrastructure, developed several operational proposals. In particular, the introduction of a special “cycle bus” along the Isonzo River to Grado or to Ronchi dei Legionari Airport was suggested. Regarding bicycle storage, the group proposed creating dedicated public areas or supporting accommodation providers in establishing private spaces for bike parking. They also emphasized the need for immediate low-cost solutions, such as adding bike trailers to existing buses and dedicated train carriages for bicycles. Signage was identified as a central issue, considered essential for safety, especially in urban areas and near intersections, where relying solely on GPS may be insufficient. Finally, the group highlighted the need to ensure greater service stability by moving beyond project-based funding and promoting longer-term financing models. Moreover, the railway connection between Mestre and Nova Gorica was highlighted, which currently allows only a limited number of bicycles relative to total capacity, representing a constraint for daily cycle tourism development.

The second group, focused on mountain biking and regulations, highlighted significant differences in national regulations between the two countries. They noted that Italy largely lacks regulatory frameworks, whereas Slovenia has particularly restrictive rules. Possible solutions were identified, including the establishment of a cross-border working group to encourage dialogue and harmonization of rules, the development of shared informational signage to guide cyclists, and, in the long term, the creation of harmonized cross-border regulations to ensure clarity and continuity along cycling routes. The importance of preserving the environmental quality of the territory, maintaining high sustainability standards and air quality, was also reaffirmed.

Conclusions and Prospects
EGTC GO intends to systematize the results of the workshop and consultation activities into a future sustainable tourism development plan for the cross-border area, in which cycle tourism represents a central strategic element.

It was also proposed to integrate these topics into the EGTC GO Environment Committee, aiming to address long-term issues such as signage and regulatory harmonization in a structured way.

Among the priorities identified was the need to optimize and enhance existing services.

The BorderLabs CE project – “Participatory cross-border governance for transition management in Central European cross-border regions” – is funded by the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE 2021-2027 program.