As the Council of the European Union continues its discussions on the role of sports tourism in the sustainable development of territories, Ostbelgien is calling for stronger recognition of border regions in future European guidelines on tourism, mobility and sport.
Sports tourism must become a European priority for border regions
Hiking, cycling tourism, nature sports or major sporting events: in many European regions, sports tourism has become a genuine economic and territorial driver.
For border regions such as Ostbelgien, it also represents a concrete opportunity to strengthen sustainable mobility, tourist appeal and cooperation between neighbouring territories.
As the Council of the European Union continues its work on this topic, several regions are calling for sports tourism to be more strongly integrated into European policies on regional development, sustainable infrastructure and the ecological transition.
This approach directly aligns with the priorities championed in Ostbelgien and the Euregio. Thanks to its sports infrastructure, soft mobility networks and natural landscapes, Ostbelgien has particularly strong assets for active and sustainable tourism. The region has for several years been investing in cycling, hiking and cross-border projects around sport and tourism.
In this context, cooperation with the neighbouring regions of Wallonia, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia is becoming increasingly important. Exchanges around cross-border rail connections, cycling routes and joint tourism offers show that administrative borders no longer correspond to the realities experienced by residents and visitors.
Ostbelgien is thus championing a vision of sports tourism that combines economic development, landscape protection and quality of life.
The goal is clear: to support a more sustainable, accessible and connected tourism model, capable of strengthening rural and border areas while limiting the environmental impact of travel.
In the ongoing European discussions, border regions are also calling for future European funding to take greater account of joint projects on sustainable mobility, active tourism and shared sports infrastructure.
Sports tourism today is no longer just about leisure. It is becoming a strategic tool for regional development, European cohesion and the attractiveness of rural areas.