They press on the pedals and kilometer after kilometer they fuel a turnover that in 2023 exceeded 5.5 billion with a +35% on the previous year and a +19% compared to 2019. It’s the cycle tourism effect, passion with a growing trend of presences reaching 56.8 million, equal to 6.7% of the total tourist presences with a +4% compared to the 54 million recorded in 2019. This is a slow but richer form of tourism thanks to a capacity spending significantly higher than the average holidaymaker. For the purchase of goods and services, a cycle tourist spends on average 95 euros a day which becomes 104.5 for the guest arriving from abroad. To these figures must be added 67 euros per overnight stay. At the end of the itinerary, what do you spend on? In post-activity well-being but also in local agri-food specialties and recreational activities. An ordinary tourist, on the other hand, normally spends almost 60 euros.
These are the values that outline the economic perimeter of cycle tourism, i.e. spending a good part of the holidays on pedals between quiet excursions but also with off-road activities such as downhill on MTBs, according to “The Italian way to cycle tourism”, the fourth edition of the report produced in collaboration with Isnart and Legambiente which today is presented at the Cycle Tourism Forum within the Bologna Fair. «Cycle tourism has grown a lot in the post-pandemic period also thanks to entrepreneurs who invest to offer experiences and services – explains Paolo Bulleri, head of Isnart research -. It is thus possible to economically revive many internal areas far from the usual tourist flows. From this perspective, there is still ample room for growth by creating an integrated strategy to better position Italy’s cycle tourism offer towards foreign markets.”
This audience of enthusiasts travels with family or friends, uses social media and needs to be attracted and involved with routes and cycle routes suitable for excursions with stops in museums, historic centers of smaller villages, at agri-food companies in search of food and wine experiences without forgetting more dynamics such as trekking and downhill that conquer Northern European fans. Furthermore, enthusiasts treat themselves to a stay which for almost two thirds of the sample observed varies between 7 and 13 nights while another 15% stay between two and four weeks. Almost 40% stay in 3 and 4 star hotels and almost 20% opt for the bed and breakfast formula. The offer of the Bel Paese ranges from “specialized” districts in terms of outdoor difficulty and commitment to cycle paths that perhaps cross natural parks. Precisely for the tourist cycle paths, the Pnrr has foreseen 400 million investments in the years 2022-2026 to create at least 1,235 additional kilometers as well as extraordinary maintenance works on the existing network.
Between itineraries and cycle routes
The report highlights several virtuous examples of projects to promote the area suitable for cycle tourists. You can start with the project UpSlowTour in the Pinerolo area, in Piedmont. Here, 15 rings have been created for over 400 kilometers of routes on secondary asphalted and dirt roads suitable for all enthusiasts, for those who use hand bikes, MTBs, e-bikes or traditional bikes. Each ring includes a free charging station for e-bikes, bike racks, information panels and dedicated signs. Overall it is enriched by events and activities carried out thanks to a network of partnerships, the use of social media and the inclusion of the destination in the Outdooractive app used by enthusiasts from all over the world. Strong involvement with the world of local activities which led to the creation of the network contract. The «Upslowtour Bike Experience» contract was signed, which
involves 27 companies from the Pinerolo area, operating in different sectors, from hospitality to rental and sales, the sale of agricultural products, taxi bikes, cycle tour leaders and more.
In Veneto, where the presence of German and Northern European tourists is predominant, is full of routes and projects, all coordinated by the «Cycle tourism service charter». The Venetian hiking network (provides 1,200 km of
cycle routes with the georeferencing of the signs managed by the Italian Environment and Bicycle Federation (Fiab). The business network is active along the cycling itinerary that connects Lake Garda to Venice, for example Garda Green (www.gardagreen.org), which welcomes cycle tourists with specific services: bike hotels, rentals, guides, restaurants. This network is equipped with a protocol, an integrated management system and a card to share processes and service solutions based on high standards of sustainability. The Green tour it is a 600 kilometer long route that uses sections of the former Treviso – Ostiglia railway. Many operators in the sector are active in the region and offer personalized itineraries and services including visits to Venetian villas, cellars and workshops of local artisans.
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2024-04-06 07:54:34