Majorca to open up its rural areas to cyclists

Staff Reporter THE Balearic government is to put the first phase of its plans into action this year, for the creation of a network of island-wide cycling routes. Distances which will total some 235 kilometres, will include routes running thruogh 17 districts of the interior of Majorca. A further aim is to revitalise inland towns and bring life to rural districts. Tourism Planning director, Josep Aloy and regional Tourism minister, Joan Flaquer, were speaking yesterday about the first phase, which has been allocated a budget of 1.5 million euros. It is envisaged tht the project will eventually be extended to Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. Flaquer confirmed that the scheme is designed to “enlarge the scope of quality tourism in the Balearics”. The cycling routes will be an important promotional tool in tourist marketing as the regional government is very clear that it wants to incorporate this pastime into the holiday island agenda. Aloy indicated tht several different country towns will be collaborating in the scheme so that the set routes, which are being developed for public use along country roads will pass through each district. He added that at the end of this year, the first phase will have been finalised. This cycling network will make the most of the network of rural roads with the objective of keeping cycling routes separate from roads used by cars. Apart from being safer, these sports boost visitor presence in the interior of the island, particularly in areas of rural tourism. Aloy indicated that Majorca, for reasons of its climatic conditions, is a place well-suited to tailor-made cycling excursions, a fact that will give elbow to this increasingly popular pastime during the months of September through to November. Off-the-beaten track paths are to accommodate conventional “outings” for families and enthusiasts and more demanding routes will be for the benefit of competition cyclists.