| Extracto del fichero OCR | EUROPEAN CYCLISTS' FEDERATION
EUROVELO BENEFITS LOCAL BUSINESSES
Overview:
• In 2009, a study commissioned by the European Parliament1 estimated that once complete the
EuroVelo network could account for 45.2 million cycle tourism trips and generate €5 billion of direct
revenue every year.
• The same study found that the average spend on day trips was almost €1 6, whilst for overnight stays it
estimated it to be €353 per trip.
• Cyclists often take routes that are 'off the beaten track' and consequently are more likely to support
local businesses instead of the mass tourism industry. By requiring services away from the usual
tourism centres they can also help to diversify local economies, particularly in rural areas.
• Even in popular tourist destinations, cyclists can help extend the season and allow for a more
balanced use of capacities.
Examples of the economic impact along certain routes:
• The number of cyclists using the Danube Cycle Path in Austria, which forms part of EuroVelo 6 -
Atlantic to the Black Sea, has been closely monitored in recent years together with their spending
patterns. It is estimated that cyclists are accountable for €9.9 million sales per year (gross), generating
more than €5 million as income and accounting for approximately 95 full-time equivalent employees".
• The regional tourist boards of Région Central and Pays de la Loire in France have recently undertaken
an evaluation of the economic impacts of the Loire à Veló1", which also forms part of EuroVelo 6. The
study calculated that 736,000 cyclists used the Loire à Veló in 2010 contributing an estimated €15.3
million directly to the economy. Cycle tourists represented 48% of those using the route and spent on
average €68 per person per day.
Examples of local businesses increasingly catering for cyclists:
• A recent surveylv found that 27% of tourism businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire in England, had
made some alterations to their existing business to meet the needs of cyclists and 23% were planning
or considering alterations. EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route (National Cycle Network Route 1 in
the UK) passes through this region. Some examples of the type of alterations made include:
Increased accommodation (e.g. St Quintín Arms Inn, Southgate B&B, White Horse Inn and
Manor Farm B&B).
Improved cycle parking facilities (e.g. the tourist attractions Burton Agnes Hall and Sewerby
Hall).
Refurbished facilities (e.g. The Hutton Cranswick Garden Centre tearoom).
• Similar changes are being made by service providers along the Algarve Coast in Portugal, due to the
presence of the cycle route Ecovia do Litoral, which forms part of EuroVelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route.
Hotels, restaurants and museums are installing cycle parking facilities in Faro and several companies
have established leisure cycle programmes for the hotels that are located alongside the route (e.g.
Megasport provides cycle products for tourists staying in hotels in Lagos, Vilamoura and Portimao).
Paul Beesley, who runs Activity Algarve Holidays (a company that organises cycle tours), recently
summed up the benefits to the local businesses: "a major point of interest is that many of...[my] clients
have completed their journeys through spring, autumn and winter. These are exactly the months that
businesses in the Algarve need support with"v.
• And to end, here's a nice story from Scotland. When a local youth hostel closed in Callander, a local
couple seized the opportunity to build up an accommodation and cycle hire business utilising its
location alongside EuroVelo 1 (National Cycle Network Route 7 in the UK). The Wheels Cycling
Centrevl has now developed into a thriving bike hire, sales business and conference centre.
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References
1 Institute of Transport and Tourism, University of Central Lancashire and Centre for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Breda University, The
European Cycle Route Network, EuroVelo: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Tourism Requested by the European Parliament's Committee
on Transport and tourism (2009)
N Manova GmbH (2009)
"'lnddigo-Altermodal and ED Institut, Étude de fréquentation et de retombées économiques de La Loire à Vélo commissioned by le Comité régional du
tourisme Centre-Val de Loire and la Société publique regional des Pays de la Loire (2011)
Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (2011)
” Personal correspondence with Federaçâo Portuguesa Cicloturismo e Utilizadores de Bicicleta (FPCUB) (2012)
Wheels Cycling Centre, Callander: http://www.scottish-cvcling.com/
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