Sustainable Tourism
Tourism Strategy · 2026-10-01
How electric mobility and connections between transport modes can become a reliable service for residents and visitors.
The journey begins before arrival
Visitors plan how to reach their accommodation, where to leave a car and which journeys they can make without it. Unclear answers make alternatives harder to choose. We recommend starting destination planning with journeys such as station to accommodation, parking area to centre, hotel to attraction and the return after an event.
Choose the mode for the journey
An electric bicycle may serve a short trip when safe infrastructure, parking and support are available. A bus may be more suitable for group arrivals or people travelling with luggage. Selection should account for age, mobility needs, weather and operating hours. Electrifying a vehicle alone does not remove congestion or accessibility barriers.
Connections determine practical usefulness
A parking area at the edge of town needs a clear connection to the final destination. Waiting time, boarding location, ticket arrangements and the last return service should be easy to find. Accommodation providers can send this information before arrival, while event organisers can include it in booking confirmations. Drivers, reception teams and visitors need access to the same updated information.
What a pilot needs to become a lasting service
Before launch, establish the operator, timetable, funding, maintenance and response to breakdowns. An electric fleet needs charging arrangements based on real routes and a fallback when a vehicle is unavailable. The municipality, transport operators and tourism businesses should understand their responsibilities. A service tested on busy days needs a separate assessment before expansion across the year.
Which outcomes to monitor
We recommend tracking use per departure, reliability, waiting time, cost per passenger and accessibility experience. To assess whether car journeys were reduced, establish how users would otherwise have travelled. Comparison with a period of similar demand helps avoid misleading conclusions. Effects on residents and local businesses should be considered alongside visitor service.
Information that remains available to everyone
Planning should also serve someone without mobile data or confidence using an app. We recommend legible stop signage, essential instructions in visitors’ languages and information available from reception. Route checks should include boarding, interchange and final access for people with different mobility needs.
The discussion with Trikala
The Tourism Strategy session at the Electric + Micro Mobility Forum on 1 October 2026 brought Tasos Flambouras together with Vivian Tegou, President of e-trikala. Its themes included electric buses serving visitors to the Mill of the Elves, connections between transport modes and the transition to permanent services. Our Electric Mobility and Tourism dossier provides further material for businesses and destinations considering similar interventions.