As cycling tourism and biking in general are political priorities, projects focused on planning, building, modernising, and equipping cycling routes may receive financial aid from the Ministry of the Economy under the 11th five-year programme for tourism infrastructure equipment.
Moselle © Pancake! Photographie
Financial aid - cycling tourism
1. Project of creating, planning, modernising, and equipping cycling routes
Under the law cited below, the following are eligible for subsidies:
- study costs
- costs of acquiring rights of way
- measures for ecological compensation (éco-points)
- construction costs
- equipment related to general infrastructure
Note: other ministries and administrations also grant subsidies, notably the National Roads Administration (P&CH) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture (ASTA). An interministerial committee between these two administrations, their ministries, and the Ministry of the Economy jointly determine the granting of subsidies for cycling paths. A request must be submitted to each entity.
Criteria for eligibility:
- a connection must exist
- the connection must have a tourism appeal or be important for the regional network of cycling paths
- the request must be made in advance if the cost of the investment, excluding VAT, is greater than €60,000 (art. 6(1) of the law relating to the the 11th five-year programme)
- signage must be installed in accordance with the guidelines (Leitfaden) of the National Roads Administration (P&CH)
- adherence, as much as is feasible, to the criteria set forth by the Grand Ducal Regulation of 1 August 2001 (https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/rgd/2001/08/01/n16/jo) that specify the terms and technical features of the development of cycling routes on the national network and its connections
Useful links:
- Law of 28 April 2015 relating to the national cycling network and connections to it with communal cycling networkshttps://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/2015/04/28/n1/jo
- Grand Ducal Regulation of 1 August 2011 putting into effect Article 3 of the law of 6 July 1999 implementing the creation of a national cycling network. https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/rgd/2001/08/01/n16/jo
- The new recommendations for the development of cycling paths in Luxembourg - www.veloplangen.lu
2. Project of creating, planning, modernising, and equipping cycling routes
Projects for the planning and installation of cycling routes are eligible for financial support under the 11th five-year programme for tourism infrastructure equipment.
Criteria for eligibility:
- the express involvement of the Office of Regional Tourism (ORT)
- planned efforts to raise public awareness
- the request must be made in advance if the cost of investment, excluding VAT, is greater than €60,000. (art. 6(1) of the law relating to the 11th five-year programme)
The amount of aid varies and depends on if the route is interregional, regional, or communal.
3. Cycling tourism infrastructure and purchasing bikes for hire
Cycling tourism projects are eligible for subsidies under the 11th five-year programme for tourism infrastructure equipment. This includes equipment such as:
- equipment for ‘service stations’ offering repairs, washing facilities, and battery recharging stations
- furnishings (rubbish bins, lighting, benches, picnic tables, security barriers, etc.)
- development and equipment for rest areas
- the purchase of bikes for hire
Please note that the request must be made in advance if the cost of investment, excluding VAT, is greater than €60,000. (art. 6(1) of the law relating to the 11th five-year programme).
For more information about financial aid made available under the law of the 11th five-year programme for tourism infrastructure equipment, please visit guichet.lu, or contact the service for financial aid of the General Directorate for Tourism of the Ministry of the Economy at: aides.tourisme@eco.etat.lu.
For more information, please visit the dedicated webpage for the 11th five-year programme at: https://guichet.public.lu/en/entreprises/financement-aides/secteurs-activites/tourisme/subside-commune-asbl-infrastruture-touristique-nat.html
