Some 1,400 people will cycle along the Border roads of the north-west this weekend in Co-operation Ireland's two-day Border Trek between Enniskillen and Sligo.
This is the first year of the Border Trek, which replaces the annual Maracycle between Dublin and Belfast, and the total distance covered over the two days is 185 miles.
Mr Terry O'Neill, of Co-operation Ireland, said the route was chosen after a survey among former Maracycle participants found that people wanted to cycle on quieter roads in more scenic areas.
The final Maracycle last year was marred by tragedy when two cyclists died after being struck by a car on the main Belfast-Dublin road, although the decision to end the event was taken before this accident occurred.
An average of 3,000 people took part in the Maracycle every year.
Guesthouse owners in the Enniskillen and Sligo areas will be the first to reap the economic benefit of the new route.
"This is about trying to create a cross-Border tourism project as much as anything else. Once people come up here and realise what a beautiful part of the world it is, there is no doubt that they'll come back in the future," said Mr O'Neill.
Mr Eddie McGovern, of Fermanagh District Council, said every guest house and hostel within a 20-mile radius of Enniskillen had been booked out for tonight.
He expected there would be a long-term spin-off for tourism, particularly for the cross-Border King Fisher Cycle Trails, which have been developed in the area. "This will put the area on the map as a cycling holiday destination," he said.
The Border Trek begins from Enniskillen tomorrow morning and the route takes it through Omagh, Belleek and Bundoran before ending in Sligo. On Sunday morning the cyclists will leave Sligo and return to Enniskillen via Carrick-on-Shannon, Ballinamore and Ballyconnell.
Ms Deirdre Finnerty of Sligo County Council said about 900 people had booked accommodation in and around the town through North-West Tourism.
The Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Ken Maginnis, will be guest of honour at the start of the Border Trek in Enniskillen.