Ed Lancaster on importance of investments into cycling tourism

1. ECF gratefully acknowledges financial
support from the European Commission.
Why it pays to invest in
cycling tourism
Ed Lancaster, e.lancaster@ecf.com
Velo Forum, Yevpatoria,
Thursday 11th October 2012

2. Content
1. Introduction to ECF
2. EuroVelo, the European cycle route
network
3. What is cycling tourism?
4. The benefits of cycling tourism
5. What investments are required?
6. Concluding remarks

3. 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.

4. Our mission:
More people cycling, more often !
Objective for Europe:
Doubling the share of cycling to
15% modal share by 2020!

5. The types of measure required

6. What we do
1) Provide information, suggestions and advice.

7. What we do
2) Lobby for the interests of cyclists in international
and European institutions.

8. What we do
3) We run global networks e.g.
‘Scientists for Cycling’, ‘Cities for
Cyclists’, and organising Velo-city
conferences

9. What we do
4) We deliver projects
on key subjects like
route infrastructure,
managing successful
cycle campaigns and
promoting cycling
tourism.

10. EuroVelo
• European cycle route
network.
• ECF is the owner of
the trademark and
coordinator of the
network.
• Not only tourism but a
significant part.

11. Introduction to cycling tourism
4 main types:

12. 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.

13. 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’.

14. European Parliament study of
cycling tourism
• Brought together all
the existing
information
• Interesting case
studies.
• Identified some other
benefits of cycling
tourism

15. 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

16. 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.

17. Comparisons
Country 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

18. What investments are required?
Cycling tourists need attractive, safe and
comfortable routes.
But what does that mean in practice?:

19. What investments are required?

20. 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.

21. 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!

22. Дякую за увагу!
For more information
e.lancaster@ecf.com
www.ecf.com