Cycle Tourism Information Sheet
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Cycle Tourism INFORMATION PACK ·TT21 INTRODUCTION Cycle tourism is now growing rapidly in the UK, in parallel with renewed CONTENTS Page interest in personal health and fitness, 1. Definitions . .1 and with mounting concern over the 2. Benefits . .3 environmental damage caused by road 3. Facts and figures . .4 traffic. The development of the 4. The Market . .6 National Cycle Network, with 4,000 5. Growth Potential . .8 miles of route opening in June 2000 6. Key Priorities . .10 and 9,000 miles by 2005, provides both 7. National Cycle Network . .11 a catalyst and an opportunity for local 8. Europe . .13 authorities, tourism promoters and 9. UK Case Studies . .14 other agencies to define coherent 10. Bibliography . .19 route development and marketing 11. Contacts . .20 strategies so as to benefit from cycle Toby Smedley Toby tourism. © Cycle tourism in the UK is currently valued at £635 million per year. The Holidays based at one overnight place, potential for growth here is huge - the 1. CYCLE TOURISM and Cycle Touring Holidays where the forecast for cycle tourism right across overnight stay changes. Cycling Europe is £14 billion per year within 20 DEFINED holidays can be either self-organised, years. With potential economic benefits Cycle Tourism can be defined as or organised by a cycling holiday at this scale it is not surprising that recreational visits, either overnight operator as a Packaged Cycling there is keen interest in how to develop or day visits away from home, which Holiday. The majority of UK cycling routes to attract visitors and tourists, involve leisure cycling as a holidays are self-organised in both the and how to market these effectively. fundamental and significant part of UK and Europe. the visit. The benefits of cycle tourism include b. Holiday Cycling reductions in pollution and traffic 1.1 TYPES OF CYCLE TOURISM This means cycling whilst on holiday, congestion, economic regeneration and and consists of day cycle rides taken better health. In recognition of this, There are three main types of Cycle by both domestic and overseas visitors, the Government is providing a strongly Tourism: while on holiday away from home, supportive policy framework. Both the cycling being one of a number of 1998 White Paper on Integrated a. Cycling Holidays activities undertaken during the Transport and the 1999 Tomorrow’s These are defined as holidays, by both holiday. Tourism strategy document call for the domestic and overseas visitors, where development of sustainable transport cycling is the main purpose of the c. Cycling Day Visits modes. holiday. Participants are sometimes referred to in this paper as “dedicated These are defined as trips from home, to places outside a person’s usual This information pack draws on basic cyclists”. place of residence. These trips may research into cycle tourism and the involve setting out from home by bike, motivation of its participants, and The holidays may be Long Cycling or taking the bike by car or train, for a includes examples from both the UK Holidays of four or more nights, or day or half-day cycle ride. Section 1.3 and Europe to show the versatility and more commonly Cycling Short Breaks overleaf gives further details of the the wide range of benefits cycle of one to three nights. distinction between tourism and Tourism can bring. The pack is intended leisure. particularly for use by Sustrans’ There is also a distinction to be made partners in the development of the between Centre-based Cycling National Cycle Network. 1 1.2 ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN are very small companies which cyclists will tend to cycle longer BY CYCLE TOURISTS have been in business for only a distances; short time. Many cycling holiday - people will either use a published Information currently available companies that have been cycle route or will plan their own suggests the following main types of established have found it difficult route, again depending on cycle tourism activity: to sustain their operations and experience. Most local authorities have collapsed as a result. produce cycle route leaflets for CYCLING HOLIDAYS Ironically, the market leaders are their area, but the content, format • Centre-based Cycling Short those companies promoting and style of such leaflets varies Breaks cycling holidays abroad, such as considerably from one authority - self-organised holidays where Susie Madron’s Cycling for Softies, to the next. There is also a people are basing themselves in a Belle France and Bent’s Bavaria. growing number of commercially particular location for two or produced cycle route publications; three days and going out for day HOLIDAY CYCLING / - a significant proportion of people cycle rides during their stay; CYCLING DAY VISITS going on day cycle rides will put - the majority of UK cycling short Activities undertaken by day cyclists their bikes on the back of their breaks are thought to be centre- and holiday cycling visitors are very cars and drive to the start point of based. similar. their cycle ride; - most people will use their own • Independent Cycle Touring The two main types of cycling bikes. A minority will hire bikes. Holidays and Short Breaks undertaken are: Holiday cyclists are likely to be - cycle tours (either linear or more inclined to hire bikes. circular) of from two to three days • Traffic-free Cycling to two weeks’ duration, which - where people are cycling entirely OTHER people plan and organise on traffic-free cycle paths, which The following types of cycling can also themselves; are either linear paths (e.g. The be seen as part of cycle tourism: - the majority of UK cycle touring Camel Trail), or circular paths holidays are self-organised. around reservoirs and in country • Offroad Cycling / Mountain parks (e.g. Rutland Water); Biking • Packaged Cycling Holidays and - will often involve cycle hire; Short Breaks - a particularly popular type of • Club Cycling - cycling holidays (usually circular cycling activity for families and • Organised Cycle Rides cycle touring holidays) organised inexperienced cyclists. by a cycling holiday operator, • Sponsored Charity Rides either for self-navigation or with • Circular Day Cycle Rides a guide; - a circular cycle ride using quiet • Schools / Youth Group Cycling - the market for packaged cycling country roads and/or traffic-free holidays in the UK is very small at cycle paths; • Cycle Racing present; - the distance cycled usually - there are approximately 70 depends on the level of cycling There is currently no published companies offering cycling experience: more experienced research information about these holidays in the UK. The majority types of cycling tourism activity. 1.3 DISTINGUISHING TOURISM specifies that a recreational visit of hours, is this “tourism”, whereas the AND LEISURE more than three hours away from same trip by car would be “leisure” home is defined as tourism. because it takes less than three hours The normal distinction is that leisure in total? visits are made by local residents, This definition is problematic for whilst tourist visits are made by cycling. Firstly, for leisure riders on We have not attempted to resolve people away from their usual locality. cycle routes near population centres these issues here. We have followed Leisure and tourist visitors can be the three-hour cut-off is entirely the definition given by the Leisure Day measured as having different spending arbitrary. Secondly, cycling uniquely is Visits Survey. For our purposes Cycling and transport patterns: tourists will a form of travel as well as an activity Day Visits therefore include rides of normally spend more, and may require enjoyed for itself. What is being more than 3 hours away from home. special facilities such as directions, enjoyed - a picnic point outside a local Local Leisure Cycling Trips are those transport and parking. The Leisure Day area, or the cycle route to it? Thirdly, of less than three hours. Using these Visits Survey 1996 defines tourism as cycling is slow. If a family cycles to a distinctions enables easier comparison “people travelling to... places outside pub two miles away for lunch, thus with other forms of tourism and their normal environment” and being away from home for over three leisure. 2 2. THE BENEFITS OF DEVELOPING CYCLE TOURISM The development of cycle tourism can • Cycle tourism is an offer a considerable number of environmentally sustainable form encouraging cycle tourism may benefits, as discussed below: of tourism with minimal impact provide an additional justification on the environment and host for investment in cycle provision. • Cycle tourists represent a growing communities. and valuable tourist market, • Cycle tourism enhances personal particularly for rural areas. Cycle • Cycle tourism can help reduce health, fitness and well being. tourists will spend at least as excess traffic. much in a rural area as other types of tourist. • Cycle tourism makes good use of existing, often under-utilised For example: resources, e.g. country lanes and The C2C route attracted over by-roads. “Encouraging cycle 10,000 coast-to-coast cycling • Cycle tourism can provide an holidaymakers in 1997, with an alternative use for redundant or tourism can help estimated average expenditure derelict resources, e.g. disused of £100 per person per holiday, to encourage railway lines. contributing some £1.1 million utility cycling: to the local economy. • Encouraging visitor arrivals and movement by bike can play an many people may important role in visitor and • Cycle tourism is good at rediscover cycling traffic management. generating local trade and offers while on holiday particular opportunities for rural • Cycle tourism can help introduce businesses and services. Spending rural traffic-calming which will or as a leisure by cycle tourists can help to further benefit both local people activity, and may support rural pubs, village shops, and tourists. small-scale rural attractions, and then be encouraged rurally-based providers of • Cycle tourism can provide new accommodation.