why it pays to invest in cycling tourism 091012
DESCRIPTION
Ed Lancaster on importance of investments into cycling tourismTRANSCRIPT
Why it pays to invest in
cycling tourism
Ed Lancaster, [email protected] Velo Forum, Yevpatoria,
Thursday 11th October 2012
ECF gratefully acknowledges financial support from the European Commission.
Content
1. Introduction to ECF2. EuroVelo, the European cycle route
network3. What is cycling tourism?4. The benefits of cycling tourism5. What investments are required?6. Concluding remarks
European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF)
• ECF is the umbrella federation of national and regional cycling organisations.
• Founded in 1983.• Nearly 70 Member
organisations in over 40 countries.
• Based in Brussels.
Our mission:More people cycling, more often !
Objective for Europe:Doubling the share of cycling to 15% modal share by 2020!
The types of measure required
What we do
1) Provide information, suggestions and advice.
What we do
2) Lobby for the interests of cyclists in international and European institutions.
What we do
3) We run global networks e.g. ‘Scientists for Cycling’, ‘Cities for Cyclists’, and organising Velo-city conferences
What we do
4) We deliver projects on key subjects like route infrastructure, managing successful cycle campaigns and promoting cycling tourism.
EuroVelo
• European cycle route network.
• ECF is the owner of the trademark and coordinator of the network.
• Not only tourism but a significant part.
Introduction to cycling tourism
4 main types:
Benefits of cycling tourism I
• Cycling tourists need services = good for local economies.
• Brings tourist to areas ‘off the beaten track’ – particularly in rural areas but also some towns / cities that do not normally receive high levels of tourists.
Benefits of cycling tourism II
• Sustainable and healthy form of tourism.
• Social interaction.• Benefits to local
communities – improved infrastructure and an encouragement to ‘give cycling a go’.
European Parliament study of cycling tourism
• Brought together all the existing information
• Interesting case studies.
• Identified some other benefits of cycling tourism
European Parliament study of cycling tourism
Key findings:• 2.3 billion cycle tourism
trips per year in Europe.• Average spend on day trips
is almost €16 or €57 if accommodation is included.
• For overnight stays it is estimated to be €439 per trip.
• The total economic impact of cycling tourism in Europe is in excess of €44 billion per year
Potential impact of EuroVelo
Once the network is complete (estimated to be 2020):• It could account for 60
million cycle tourism trips.
• Generating 7 billion Euro of direct revenue per year.
ComparisonsCountry Estimated economic impact
(billion €)
Germany 11.37
France 7.49
UK 2.83
Sweden 2.58
Netherlands 2.57
Finland 2.2
Italy 2.05
Poland 2.02
Hungary 1.9
Spain 1.6
Bulgaria 0.25
Romania 0.18
What investments are required?
Cycling tourists need attractive, safe and comfortable routes. But what does that mean in practice?:
What investments are required?
What investments are required?
It is not just investment in physical outputs that is needed to encourage cycling tourism. It is also organisational development:• Governments should contribute to the
establishment of effective organisational structures.
• The coordination and financing should be solved on different levels:– European level (EuroVelo); – National level (with National EuroVelo Coordination
Centers like in the Netherlands and Switzerland); and – Regional and local levels.
Concluding remarks
The benefits of the cycling tourism in Europe far exceed its costs: • Development and maintenance of the EuroVelo
network will be approximately €1.5 – 2.5 billion for the period 2012-2020!
• The total economic impact of cycling tourism in Europe is in excess of €44 billion per year and the EuroVelo Network can increase it by a further15% (€7billion) if it is developed.
The rewards are there for those that want it!
