At the cycling and hiking fair “Fiets en Wandelbeurs” in Utrecht, the Netherlands, it was announced on Friday that the Kattegattleden has been named Cycle Trail of the Year 2018.
It is a prestigious award, which aims to promote work on high-quality cycle routes that are attractive to visitors.
The criteria that are assessed include that the trail should have an attractive range of experiences, food and accommodation, be accessible, safe and offer beautiful views. This year is the first time that a Swedish candidate has been included in the jury's assessment.
Dag Hultefors (M), chairman of the Regional Board's Growth Committee for Region Halland, received the award on site in Utrecht. He is pleasantly surprised by the announcement of the award.
– The Kattegattleden, which is close to the sea, is a success and interest is constantly increasing, not least internationally.
Our investment in international marketing communication is now yielding results, says Dag Hultefors. The trail has become a growth engine for the tourism industry while also being a great asset for the people of Halland. Pia Jönsson Rajgård, CEO of Tourism in Skåne, agrees.
– Cycle tourism is an important part of our offering, and a recent target group survey shows that these visitors are very satisfied with their stay and are happy to return.
The fact that we communicate internationally together with Region Halland in markets such as Denmark, Norway, Germany and the Netherlands produces good results and optimizes our resources.
The Kattegattleden is Sweden's first national cycle route and was inaugurated on June 6, 2015.
