Cycle tourism: a very successful phenomenon

As emerged at the 2022 Cycle Tourism Fair, the alternative holiday on e-bikes is not a current trend, but a real lifestyle.

In fact, the bicycle has become a valid sustainable mobility alternative and its use as a tourist experience in large and small destinations, in Italy and in all countries considered tourist destinations, is increasingly central and important.

This change is important from both a cultural and economic point of view: in fact, there are many projects, maneuvers and investments in the field to make the use of the bicycle increasingly accessible and usable for everyone.

With a view to carefully examining this phenomenon, also in view of the opportunities that the PNRR (National Restart and Resilience Plan) will be able to offer to destinations that want to engage in welcoming cycle tourists and cycle amateurs, the report "Italy by bike 2022” drawn up by CECOMS, Center for Strategic Communication of IULM University, whose scientific director is Stefania Romenti.

“This report – commented Gianni Cova, rector of the University – it can be a key to the country's ecological and gentle restart in view of the summer after the two years of pandemic we have experienced. Throughout Italy and Europe there are numerous cycle routes, some of which have been awarded because they stand out from others for certain criteria, such as road conditions, respect for the environment, tourist and territorial valorisation. This work by CECOMS fits precisely into the perspective of the attention that IULM University has been paying for years to the topic of sustainability, even within the Campus, with the involvement of its students and with the training offer".

In 2018, before the pandemic, cycle tourism produced an economic income in Europe of approximately 44 billion euros, therefore already a positive number.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, e-bikes have increased by +44% sales in Europe compared to the previous year, giving another positive boost to the cycle tourism sector.

The other side of the coin is represented by the need for companies to regain control of the production chain by bringing work and value back to Europe.

The bicycle boom, therefore, is not only excellent from a cultural, social and environmental point of view, but also economic as it can bring jobs and develop local development projects and strategies.

According to data reported by the ECF in the report “The Benefits of Cycling” (2018), greater use of the bicycle would lead to savings in healthcare costs of up to 110 billion euros and 3 billion liters of fuel per year.

Furthermore, cycle paths also allow us to decongest busy roads and, according to FIAB estimates, every euro invested in cycle paths returns 3.5 to the territory. Furthermore, each completed project generates an annual income of approximately 110,000 euros for each kilometer of travel in the area crossed.

A well-distributed and organized network, according to Fiab, would bring in up to 2 billion euros per year.

An opportunity therefore completely successful on multiple fronts and we need to develop it as best we can.

To read and download the interesting “Italy by bike 2022” report here: https://italiainbici.repower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/italia_in_bici_2022_web.pdf