The Plazaola Greenway to have new promotional materials as a result of the collaboration between the Basque Country and Navarre

The Basque Country stand has served as the setting for the presentation of new promotional materials that highlight the value of the Plazaola Greenway. The Basque Government’s Minister for Tourism, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Javier Hurtado, together with the Minister for Economic and Business Development, Mikel Irujo, presented various actions that combine new technologies with the digitalisation of the route for online platforms and a guide that shows the most interesting tourist resources close to the route. In addition to the Government of Navarre and the Basque Country, the Department of Mobility of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, the counties of Donostialdea and Tolosaldea, the City Council of Andoain and the Plazaola Tourist Consortium have collaborated in the promotional work.

The Plazaola Greenway has become a reference point for hiking and cycle touring. At this event, the Minister Javier Hurtado stressed that, for the Basque Government, the promotion of the Plazaola Greenway is another step forward in our commitment to continue positioning the Basque Country as a cycle tourism destination. To this end, he said that his department had a number of tools at its disposal. A long cycling tradition, good infrastructures, the network of MTB centres and, precisely, the network of greenways. Javier Hurtado emphasised that the promotion of the Plazaola Greenway and actions such as its inclusion in the new Basque Country by bicycle guide to be launched shortly, which will include information on the Plazaola Greenway. Also with an agreement with the Spanish Railway Foundation that has been in place for the last 7 years for the dissemination and promotion of the Basque Country’s greenways, which will be renewed this year. And with the promotion in specialised media that we are going to carry out to promote and disseminate nature products, including the Plazaola greenways. Last but not least, this offer will be included in the programme of the third Basque Country Greenways Conference, to be held this year in San Sebastian, where the sector and the general public will be able to find out about the latest developments in these mobility and tourist infrastructures.

Greenways are also an example of accessibility, non-motorised mobility and the recovery of the memory of our industrial heritage. The development of the old railway tracks was a necessary element of the industrialisation of the 19th and 20th centuries, and in this sense also forms an essential part of our social and cultural landscape. Industrial history is an indissoluble part of today’s Basque Country, and in this respect the greenways help to stimulate industrial tourism, which is a cornerstone of the Basque Country 2030 Sustainable Tourism Strategy.

The Plazaola Greenway runs through some of the most beautiful spots in the Basque Country and Navarre and can also be travelled at any time of the year and, in this way, enjoy the characteristics of each season.