Luxembourg's Gravel: How the country is becoming a centre for cycling tourism

Luxembourg, known for its scenic nature and compact scale, is now targeting a new audience: fans of gravelbiking - riding on dirt, forest and mixed surfaces. In an interview with Revue magazine, State Secretary for Tourism Eric Thill explained how the country intends to integrate gravelbiking into its nationwide tourism strategy.

Active tourism is one of the priorities of Luxembourg's tourism strategy, especially hiking and cycling. According to surveys, already today 12% of overnight tourists use their time in Luxembourg for cycling tours and 4% for mountain biking. Gravel combines everything: nature, sport, adventure and individuality.

The peculiarity of the gravel audience is that they are a new type of tourist: active, often travelling out of season, in vans or with tents, planning trips via Komoot and other cycling apps, and actively using digital tools. They are attracted not only by the routes, but also by the atmosphere - food, culture, scenery.

The project is being implemented in cooperation with regional tourism organisations, an association of youth hostels, the Luxembourg for Tourism agency and the Nature Authority. A national concept for gravel and MTB tourism has already been developed and serves as a guide for the regions.

First of all, the routes will be aimed at beginners and family travellers, with an emphasis on "flow trails" - soft but interesting trails that are fun to ride. Advanced trails with a high technical level will appear on a point-by-point basis, mainly in the south of the country.

The first wave of routes is being developed by a special working group. The centrepiece will be a national gravel route that will allow you to cross Luxembourg and experience its natural and cultural diversity. It will be complemented by regional tours showcasing the best landscapes and sights.

Technically, the routes will vary in difficulty, combining dirt, gravel and tarmac sections. All routes will be available exclusively in digital format - via bike apps and GPX files. This is not only modern, but also in line with an ecological approach: the emphasis is on minimal interference with nature and the reuse of existing infrastructure.

The long-term goal is to make Luxembourg recognisable as a European destination for gravel and MTB cycling tourists. Visit Luxembourg and regional tour operators are already working to promote the brand abroad. Domestically, interest is fuelled by initiatives such as a series of tours from the Visit Guttland team, which will take place in May and July as part of the "Lëtzebuerg, dat ass Vakanz!" campaign.