From our editorial team
Cycle tourism is booming in Italy - not only among international guests, but also among locals. More and more Italians are opting for "cicloturismo", a holiday on two wheels.
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Whether it's day trips, tours lasting several days or entire cycle tours through their own country - a recent national survey by the FIAB (Federazione Italiana Ambiente e Bicicletta) now shows in detail where and how Italians prefer to travel by bike. The FIAB is Italy's most important organisation for the promotion of cycling in Italy. Together with the University of Insubria, the "Active Italy" network and the "Club of Bicycle Friendly Companies" (CIAB), it surveyed 2,500 Italian cyclists for a large-scale study.
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Where Italians prefer to cycle
The vast majority of Italian cycling holidaymakers, almost 80 per cent, stay at home. Cycling holidays through the north of the country are particularly popular. The most popular regions are Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Tuscany. Only just under one in five cycle holidays abroad. Many Italians say they are also travelling in the cooler months: One in two also cycle in autumn, one in five also in winter. Nature and culture on two wheels: 80 per cent of Italian cyclists like to cycle through rural regions such as hilly and river landscapes, while 68 per cent also enjoy city breaks by bike.
Train, bus and bike
Italian cycle tourism is crucially dependent on what is known as "intermodality", i.e. the combination of different modes of transport. Around two thirds of cycle tourists use the train to get to their destination, and the majority of them also use it during their holiday for journeys between stages. Almost all respondents consider the option of taking bikes on trains and buses to be essential. At the same time, just as many emphasise the importance of well-maintained cycle paths and high-quality routes.
E-bikes as a growth driver
The influence of e-bikes on cycle tourism is growing rapidly. One in five people have only started longer tours with an e-bike. Older people in particular are finding it easier to get into cycle tourism. One in three Italian holidaymakers is now travelling with an electric drive. The study shows that e-bikes contribute in particular to enabling more challenging routes with more metres of elevation gain (83 % of respondents), longer tours (81 %) and more frequent cycling trips per year (72 %).
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Requirements for accommodation
When choosing accommodation, cycle travellers attach great importance to special services. While secure bike storage facilities (90 %) are a must for almost everyone, occasional cycle travellers want additional services such as energy-rich meals (77 %), washing facilities for clothes (59 %), maps (68 %), bike hire (41 %) and guided tours (43 %).
Security and economic factor
Despite the positive developments, safety remains a major concern. Many cycle travellers feel unsafe in traffic - both in cities and on country roads. Occasional cyclists in particular state that safety concerns influence their decision to cycle. The biggest concern is close contact with motorised vehicles. The study shows that cycle tourism is not only a sustainable form of travel, but is also becoming increasingly important economically. According to Daniele Crotti, an economic researcher at the University of Insubria, the sector is having an increasingly positive impact on local businesses, accommodation and tourism services every year.
