CYCLE TOURISM FACT SHEET 

 

►    Cycle Tourism is increasing worldwide, with many destinations actively marketing specifically to cyclists.  Montreal, Quebec eastern townships, Netherlands, Channel Islands, Oregon, and Britain.  (see Britain notes below) 
►    Victoria was declared cycling capital of Canada by Stats-Canada 
►    Oak Bay is ideal for cycling with paved streets, low traffic, scenic waterfront, and heritage homes lined tree-bordered streets. 
►    The riding facility at Hartland (Mount Work Park) is one of the best riding areas in the world.  Other areas with fewer advantages, have established large reputations in the biking community.  Moab, Utah; Fruita, Colorado; Sedona, Arizona have become destinations for off road cyclists. 
►    Olympic riders Alison Sydor, Geoff Kabush, and Roland Green are stationed in Victoria. 
►    30% of Whistler summer visitors partake in cycling. 
►    In Netherlands and Denmark, cycling tours represent close to 20% of all itinerant tourism. 
►    Austria’s Danube cycle route attracts 1.5 million visitors per year.  In towns on the route, the majority of overnight visitors are cyclists.
►    Britain is using $100 million for a new national cycling network.  5600 km are now complete and objective is for 16,000 km. 
►    Britain indicates cycle tourism has brought $1.4 billion Cdn. per year to the economy. 
►    Britain’s “Camel Trail” attracts 300,000 visitors per year, of which almost all are holiday cyclists renting bikes. 
►    7% of visitors to Ireland cycle.  In Germany the number is closer to 25%! 
►    Quebec has invested $88 million in a 3400 km cyclotouring network
►    “La Route verte”(green). 
►    38% of the tourists using Quebec’s La Route verte were from outside the province. 
►    1.83 million bikes were sold in Canada in 1997. (868,000 of which were mountain bikes). Only 714,000 cars were sold that year.  $286 million were spent on bikes and accessories in 1997. 
►    Bicycling is the #1 sport for men.  66% of respondents said it was their most important activity.  It is the #2 sport for women (behind swimming). 
►    Major advertisers actively target the cyclists with full-page ads in national cycling magazines, and/or use cycling as a positive image in other advertising venues. 

 

Cycle Tourism: Transportable Facts 

Cycle tourism is woven into the fabric of business across North America.  A glance at Canadian websites sees Ontario’s Niagara Region selling wine country tours and Nova Scotia boasting cyclable coastal routes.   Destination mountain biking is marketed everywhere there are ski hills and day trippers are crowding rail trail conversions across the country. 

Here is a snapshot of some of the economic facts and demographic profiles that describe what cycle tourism means for some communities. 

Quebec:

Quebec is investing significantly in building bicycle friendly infrastructure and cycle tourism is well supported through map and guidebook information.  In 1992 Montreal hosted ProBike, a conference that will bring 700 delegates to Victoria in September of 2004 as Pro Walk – Pro Bike.  Velo Quebec organizes events, designs tours, produce maps and otherwise promotes cycling in Quebec.  ProBike was the glue that tied their strategy together. 

·         In 1999, more than 1.3 million visitor trips in the province of Quebec included cycling in their itineraries.
·         33% of cycling tourists included hiking in their activities, 23% added water sports to their trips
·         Cycling tourists spend $105 a day, more than double that of typical tourists at $52 a day.
·         Cycle tourists stayed an average 4.4 nights per trip compared to typical tourists at 3.1 nights
·         Cycling nights were split evenly between camping and hotel stays
·         66% of cycle tourists in the province were between 35-54, 49% were university grads, 60% had family incomes over $40,000

Vermont:

Where maple syrup is king cycling tourism earns the state twice the annual income of its most famous export.  Vermont’s study of outdoor recreation as a tourism segment poured through the numbers and found what active travelers are doing when they visit.

“Active” travelers visit more often – 2.5 visits yearly vs 2.0 for typical tourists
Stays are 8.1 nights vs 4.7 nights
Half of active travelers return, only one third of typical tourists come back
Outdoor recreation travelers spend $971 per visit, typical tourist spend $645 (U.S.)
Active travelers have higher incomes and more likely to travel further for their trips
Older but fitter?  Active travelers in Vermont are more likely older than typical tourists to the state!
Visitors also significantly rely on visitor information packages 

Maine:

Maine has coastal cycling routes, an expanding rail trail network and extensive natural areas.

Their studies evolved recommendations for developing extensive map and guide products to support destination and itinerant cycling tourism.

·         The highest proportion of visitor spending budgets for cycling tourists in the state went to restaurants and grocery stores

British Columbia:

Cycle tourism product includes:

·         Kettle Valley Rail Trail
·         Mountain Bike Summers at the Ski Hills – Whsitler, Mt Washington

Vancouver Island:  Galloping Goose, Mill Bay Ferry, Wine Country, Highway 19A, Sunshine Coast Circle, Gulf Islands, BC Parks