Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cycling Tourism: Characteristics and Challenges for the Developments and Promotions of a Special Interest Product

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Culture and Tourism in a Smart, Globalized, and Sustainable World

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics ((SPBE))

  • 1542 Accesses

Abstract

The growth of cycling tourism over the past decade emerges the need for the development of unique tourist products by the destinations in order to stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace. This paper explores the challenges and possibilities of developing cycling tourism in Greece as a special form of tourism, offering multiple economic, social and environmental benefits. At first, important aspects and international trends related to cycling tourism are examined, focusing in particular on the conditions for its development, such as the development of cycling routes, the types of cycling, the existence of appropriate infrastructure, the transport of bicycles by public means of transportation, the design and promotion of the cycling tourism product. The next section explores the conditions for the development of cycling tourism in Greece through quantitative opinion research on domestic and foreign cyclists. The results of the survey illustrate important issues on the development of cycling tourism in Greece and establishes policy guidelines useful to stakeholders interested in the development and provision of cycle tourism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Altermodal. (2007). 2006 survey of traffic and economic impact along EuroVelo 6. Altermodal.

    Google Scholar 

  • ArgeDonau Österreich, 2011. Arge Donau Österreich. (2011). Unterwegs entlang der Donau (press release). Oberösterreich Tourismus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohmen, R., Tiffe, A., Dürhager, U., Borsbach, K., Funke, R., & Kollbach, K. (2011). Analyse von Radverkehrsströmen zur nachhaltigen Optimierung von Radverkehrsnetzen. TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH.

    Google Scholar 

  • ETI. (2007). Regionalwirtschaftliche Effekte des Radtourismus in Rheinland-Pfalz. Europäisches Tourismus Institut an der Universität Trier GmbH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulks, P., Ritchie, B., & Fluker, M. (2006). Cycle Tourism in Australia: An investigation into its size and scope. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fietsplatform. (2004). Informatie onderzoek LF-routes. Stichting Landelijk Fietsplatform.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fietsplatform. (2009a). Informatie onderzoek LF-routes. Stichting Landelijk Fietsplatform.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fietsplatform. (2009b). Zicht op Nederland Fietsland 2009. Stichting Landelijk Fietsplatform.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ickert, L., Rommerskirchen, S. & Weyand, E. (2005). Veloland Schweiz: Ergebnis-Band zur Gästebefragung. Zählung und Befragung 2004. ProgTrans AG.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Transport and Tourism, & Centre for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. (2012). The European Cycle Route Network Eurovelo. Retrieved from https://ecf.com/files/wp-content/uploads/The-european-cycle-route-network-EuroVelo.pdf. Accessed on January 15, 2019.

  • Kokkosis H., Tsartas P., & Grimpa E. (2020). “Ειδικές και εναλλακτικές μορφές τουρισμού”, Κριτική.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamont, M. (2009). Reinventing the wheel: A definitional discussion of bicycle tourism. Journal of Sport and Tourism, 14(1), 5–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lumsdon, L., Downward, P., & Cope, A. (2004). Monitoring of cycle tourism on long distance trails: The North Sea Cycle Route. Journal of Transport Geography, 12(1), 13–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lumsdon, L. (1996). Cycle tourism in Britain. Insights (March). English Tourist Board.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lumsdon, L. (2000). Transport and tourism: A sustainable tourism development model. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 8(4), 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • MANOVA. (2007). Radfahrer-Befragung 2006: Niederösterreichische Haupt-Radrouten. MANOVA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercat, N. (2009). Spécial économie du vélo. Étude complète. ATOUT FRANCE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, B.W. (1998). Bicycle Tourism in the South Island of New Zealand: planning and management issue. Tourism Management, 19(6), 567–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotar, J. (2012). How to develop cycle tourism? Maribor: CENTRAL EUROPE Programme cofinanced by the ERDF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schafer, C. S., Lee, B. K., & Turner, S. (2000). The tale of three greenway trails: User perceptions related to quality of life. Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning, 49, 163178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simonsen, P. S., Jørgensen, B., & Robbins, D. (1998). Cycling tourism. Unit of Tourism Research at Recearch Centre of Bornholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sotolongo, J. (2018). The Spend Cycle: How bicycle tourism impacts small communities. Dirtragmag. Retrieved from https://dirtragmag.com/the-spendhttps://dirtragmag.com/the-spend-cycle-how-bicycle-tourism-impacts-smallcycle-how-bicycle-tourism-impacts-smallcommunities/. Accessed on April 25, 2019.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bundesamt, S. (2008). Tourismus in Zahlen 2007. Statistisches Bundesamt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sustrans. (1999). Sustrans Information Sheets. Retrieved from https://www.sustrans.org.uk/webfiles/Info%20sheets/ff28.pdf. Accessed on December 10, 2018.

  • Tourism France Ministry. (2007). Mission nationale véloroutes et voies vertes, Retrieved from https://www.tourisme.gouv.fr/fr/z2/territo/rural/veloroutes/Bilan_perspectives_2007.jsp. Accessed on April 10, 2019.

  • Trendscope. (2008a). Radreisen der Deutschen 2008. Trendscope GbR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trendscope. (2008b). Radreisen der Deutschen 2008 (additional data tables). Trendscope GbR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trendscope. (2010). Radreisen der Deutschen 2010. Cologne, Germany: Trendscope UNEP/WTO. (2005). Making tourism more sustainable—A guide for policy makers. United Nations Environment Programme.

    Google Scholar 

  • Τsartas, P., & Sarantakou, E. (2016). “Tourism market trends and their effect on entrepreneurship, cultural consumption and sustainability”. In Z. Andreopoulou, N. Leandros, G. Quaranta, R. Salvia, Francoangeli (Eds.), New media, entrepreneurship and sustainable development (pp. 25–37), Italy. ISBN 9788891751058.

    Google Scholar 

  • Τsartas P., Sarantakou E., & Αpostolopoulou Ε. (2016), «Κύριες αλλαγές στον κλάδο του τουρισμού: τα προϊόντα ειδικών και εναλλακτικών μορφών τουρισμού και η βιώσιμη ανάπτυξη», in the book: “Θαλάσσια χωρικά ζητήματα” (pp. 365–372) In S. Kivelou, Kritiki (Ed.). ISBN 9789605861124.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNWTO-UNEP-WMO. (2008). Climate change and tourism: Responding to global challenges. UNWTO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vassi, A. & Bakogiannis, E. (2013). Progress and problems when planning for bicycle-case study Athens, In ICHC 2013 24th International Cycling History Conference, May 14, 2013. Lisbon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zovko, I. (2013). The Value of Cycle Tourism, Opportunities for the Scottish economy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Transform Scotland. Retrieved from https://transformscotland.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/The-Value-of-CycleTourism-full-report.pdf. Accessed on February 10, 2019.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hellenic Open University, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Elina Tsitoura

  2. Harokopio University, Kallithéa, Greece

    Paris Tsartas

  3. University of West Attica, Egaleo, Greece

    Efthymia Sarantakou

  4. University of Aegean, Mytilene, Greece

    Alexios-Patapios Kontis

Authors
  1. Elina Tsitoura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paris Tsartas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Efthymia Sarantakou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alexios-Patapios Kontis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paris Tsartas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of West Attica, Athens, Greece

    Vicky Katsoni

  2. University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

    Ciná van Zyl

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Tsitoura, E., Tsartas, P., Sarantakou, E., Kontis, AP. (2021). Cycling Tourism: Characteristics and Challenges for the Developments and Promotions of a Special Interest Product. In: Katsoni, V., van Zyl, C. (eds) Culture and Tourism in a Smart, Globalized, and Sustainable World. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72469-6_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation