The Italian cycle tourism It continues its unstoppable race: 89 million presences in 2024 (with an increase of 54% compared to the previous year) and an economic impact that touches 10 billion euros. These are the impressive data that emerge from the report “Traveling with the 2025 bike”, now in its fifth edition and created by Isnart-Unioncamere for the Observatory on the tourism economy of the Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with Legambiente.
A full expansion phenomenon
The numbers are clear: cycle tourism now represents more than 10% of the total tourist flows in Italito. We are no longer faced with a niche for fans, but to a real movement that is redesigning the travel habits and territories of our country.
“The growth of cycle tourism in our country is now constant and should no longer surprise,”
Loretta Credaro, president of Isnart, said Loretta.
“It is a product certainly chosen by fans, but more and more a transversal tourist experience capable of attracting a wider audience.”
Young entrepreneurs and villages that are reborn
One of the most interesting aspects highlighted in the relationship is the social and economic impact that cycle tourism is having on the internal areas and on the villages, traditionally marked by depopulation. Sebastiano Venneri, Tourism Legambiente manager, underlined this aspect: “We wanted to dedicate a section of the report to the story of a series of new entrepreneurial initiatives generated by cycling and which have brought good economy to the internal areas of the country.”
From Liguria to Sicily, Legambiente has documented numerous realities that have allowed many young people to remain, in some cases to return, set up a family and business in contexts marked by the demographic decline. A phenomenon that the relationship defines “a beautiful signal of socio -economic rebirth that sees the absolute protagonist on the bicycle”.
Who are the Italian cyclists
The report also offers a detailed Identikit of the cycle tourist medium. These are mainly people between 30 and 44 years (47.7%), followed by generation X (35.4%, between 45 and 60 years). A third travels in pairs (36.7%), while 31.1% prefer the solo adventure and 27.5% move with friends.
The Internet is the main channel to organize this type of holiday: 63.1% of cyclists use the web to plan their itineraries, consulting online information, offers, social media and specialized blogs.
Interestingly to discover that the cycle tourist does not only seek sports experience: 44.6% indicate the richness of the artistic and cultural heritage as the main motivation for choosing the destination, after sport. Follow the ease of achievement (33.1%) and the search for moments of relaxation (30.7%).
A phenomenon that also attracts women
A fact that makes you think is the growing female presence in the world of cycling. The analysis reveals surprisingly high percentages in some regions such as Tuscany (Castelli Ciclovia, 63%), Liguria (Arenzano-Varazze Ciclovia, 43%), Calabria (parks cycle paths, 41.4%) and Emilia-Romagna (36.3%).
This given spare is the myth of cycle tourism as a mainly male activity and shows how, with the right infrastructure and proposals, the bicycle can become an inclusive and accessible travel tool to everyone.
How much do cyclists spend?
The report also analyzes the economic impact of the phenomenon. The average per capita per capita expenditure of cyclists is stable compared to 2023, while the expenses on the territory made by foreigners are increasing: 132 euros in 2024 against 104 euros of the previous year.
For accommodation, hotels are preferred (53.1%) and B&B (19.5%), with a very high level of overall satisfaction: the average vote expressed by cyclists oscillates between 7 and 8 out of 10, with peaks of excellence for “quality of eating and drinking” and “courtesy and hospitality of the local population” (both with 8/10).
The challenges for the future
Despite the impressive results, the report highlights how the growth of the sector is more the result of the private initiative than a coordinated strategy at national level. To fully exploit the potential of cycle tourism, three priorities are indicated:
- Continue investing for Increase the safety of those who pedalboth through coherent regulatory interventions and cultural awareness actions
- Invest adequate resources on the national tourist cycle system system
- Speed up the process for defining the figure of the cycling guideharmonizing regional rules
“The reports of the report demonstrate the growing relevance of this tourist segment for our country,” commented Pinar Pinzuti of Bikenomist, director of the cycle tourism fair where the report was presented. “The offers present at the fourth edition of the cycle tourism fair empirically highlight this growth which increasingly need support from the central state to be competitive internationally”.
A model of sustainable tourism
The analysis of the cycling demand, long conduct 10 cyclovies and cycle-itineraries In various Italian regions (Lombardy, Liguria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Campania, Calabria and Puglia), confirms the enormous potential still unexpressed in the sector.
In particular, large margins emerge to attract growing shares of international users and the need to invest in safety and quality of the offer: first aid points, expansion of the offer of refreshment and shelter points, improvement of signs, increase in information points, bike and accessories rental points, qualified technical assistance services.
Cycling is thus confirmed not only as a growing trend, but as a Sustainable tourism development model, Able to combine the enhancement of the territory with the creation of new local economies, the protection of the environment with the rediscovery of marginal areas. A green revolution that, pedaling after ride, is changing the face of Italy.
The “Traveling Bike 2025” Report is based on interviews with over 5 thousand tourists, of which 2,800 have declared “Cycling” as their main holiday motivation, to which are added 2,450 cycle tourist interviewed with 10 regional over-championations, making this search for one of the most nationwide at national level on the topic. Here you can download the complete relationship.
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