Today, Wednesday, February 9, 2022, the press conference for the presentation of the Fiera del Cicloturismo was held. This event will take place in Milan on March 12 and 13, 2022, at the Fabbrica del Vapore.
The press conference is available for viewing at the YouTube link:
Pinar Pinzuti, Creator and Director of Fiera del Cicloturismo, presented and moderated the event.
Speakers included:
Martina Riva, Councillor for Tourism, Municipality of Milan
Manlio Messina, Councillor for Tourism, Region of Sicily
Gianni Rosa, Councillor for the Environment, Region of Basilicata
Valentín González, Head of Italian Market, Gran Canaria Tourism
Christian Clarizio, Tourism Advisor, Biella
Sara Vitali, Media Relations Manager, Terre di Pisa
Cycling tourism is a sector worth 7.6 billion euros and is showing constant growth, likely as a reaction to the lockdowns we all endured over the past 24 months. This is demonstrated by the Fiera del Cicloturismo, which was sold out already in its first edition.
Pinar Pinzuti, project manager of the company Bikenomist, here as the director of the first Fiera del Cicloturismo, which will take place on March 12-13 in Milan. Smiling and a bit emotional, Pinar recalled how, exactly two years ago, they were about to launch the first Fiera del Cicloturismo, which was canceled just days before it was to happen.
The idea to organize a show like this comes from a personal experience. Pinar has been practicing cycling tourism for almost 15 years, during which she encountered difficulties such as a lack of information on the best routes, ideal destinations, and services for cycling tourists.
Thus, the Fiera del Cicloturismo was born to fill this gap in information, to become a meeting point for tourist destinations, regions, and tour operators who will present themselves to those who want to experience a new adventure outdoors.
However, this event will not be a bike show: because the protagonists of a cycling holiday are not the bikes, components, or accessories, but the people and the landscapes they cross. And since cycling tourism is democratic and accessible to all, entrance will be free for everyone.
After Pinzuti, Martina Riva, the Tourism Councillor for the Municipality of Milan, took the floor and defended the choice to support and host the Fiera del Cicloturismo, considering it a sustainable approach to the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, with the aim of extending tourists’ stays in the city.
Milan has recently approved a 750 km bike mobility plan across the metropolitan area to connect with nearby towns, which, in its design, will not only promote daily bicycle commuting but will also connect with Lombard, national, and European cycling tourism routes.
Cycling in Sicily
Among the event participants, we had the pleasure of hearing from Manlio Messina, Councillor for Tourism, Region of Sicily.
Sicily is one of the Italian regions most committed to developing outdoor tourism, also as a tool for de-seasonalization, given the favorable climate even in autumn and winter.
Thanks to its diverse landscapes, presence of trails, white roads with low traffic, and the work of specialized tour operators, cycling tourism, trekking, and sporting activities set in architectural, historical, and artistic contexts are becoming increasingly important attractions for the island.
Sicily has long been engaged in this regard, also thanks to the development of the SIBIT Sustainable Interregional Bike Tourism project, a European initiative involving the Sicilian cities of Syracuse, Caltanissetta, Ragusa, Agrigento, and Trapani.
Among the most interesting destinations and activities mentioned by Messina are Mount Etna and the Nebrodi Park, as well as the Madonie Park, in addition to many towns reflecting the soul of Sicily, such as Geraci Siculo, Petralia Soprana, and Cefalù, which are listed among Italy’s most beautiful villages.
More information at: visitsicily.info
Discovering Basilicata, Land of Two Seas, by Bike
Basilicata, represented at the conference by Gianni Rosa, Regional Councillor for the Environment, was placed in the spotlight.
“After the great success of the film ‘Basilicata coast to coast,’ it is now time to discover Basilicata, the land of two seas, by bike,” said Rosa, who then mentioned the Community Project Thematic-Interreg Adrion, involving the Basilicata Territorial Promotion Agency and the University of Basilicata as the lead entities.
This project included dedicated activities, such as the app “Basilicata Free to Move,” available in three languages (English, French, and German), with 21 complete itineraries including GPX tracks that cross the Lucanian region, touching or passing by 81 towns and 124 points of interest, some of which can only be reached on foot or by bike. An innovative and effective tourist signage system is also being implemented to make the identified routes more accessible.
The app can be downloaded on all Android and iOS devices.
For more information: www.basilicataturistica.it
Gran Canaria’s Roads Welcome Cycling Tourists, Professional Cyclists, and Amateurs
One of the regions that decided to bet on the Fiera del Cicloturismo is Gran Canaria, represented at the press conference by Valentín González, head of the Italian market. González highlighted that every year, Gran Canaria’s roads welcome cycling tourists, professional cyclists, and amateurs who choose the island for its exceptional climate conditions, as well as its wide variety of routes, ranging from easier to more challenging ones. Among the toughest is the climb to the Peak of Las Nieves, with sections reaching a 23% incline.
The presence of 46 microclimates makes the island an attractive destination year-round for professional cyclists, bikers, gravel enthusiasts, and e-bike users.
For those training or simply wanting to vacation in a nature-filled landscape—declared a Biosphere Reserve for over 46% of its territory since 2005—Gran Canaria offers a true universe of possibilities, just a 4-hour flight from Italy.
Gran Canaria has prepared a calendar for 2022 with 14 events to challenge cyclists of all levels and specializations. Among them are the EPIC Gran Canaria this weekend, the TRANSGRANCANARIA BIKE in May, and the Gran Canaria BIKE WEEK in December.
The island is making significant strides in redefining its tourism model. The challenge is to provide visitors with an experience that is increasingly authentic and sustainable, fully aware of the importance of adopting the sustainability criteria defined by the United Nations in relation to the 2030 Agenda, designed to promote sustainability worldwide.
An important first step has been the implementation of the necessary measures to obtain the prestigious “Biosphere Responsible Tourism” certification, an international and voluntary certification based on sustainable development principles set by the Institute for Responsible Tourism (ITR).
For more information: www.grancanaria.com
Cycling Tourism in the Valencia Region
Unfortunately, the Valencia Region (Valencia, Benidorm, and Costa Blanca) could not attend the press conference but will be present with its offerings at the Show next month.
In the Valencia Region, we find an extraordinary bouquet of landscapes. This diversity of ecosystems forms a unique natural environment, rich in over three thousand different plant species, some of which are extinct or non-existent elsewhere in Europe. For this reason, the Valencian territories are a refuge for a multitude of birds during their annual migration, which can be explored calmly and peacefully by bike.
Villages perched on hilltops, walled medieval towns, seaside residential areas, thermal baths, hermitages, monasteries, castles, prehistoric caves with rock paintings, royal mule tracks, and vast opportunities for excursions are the lasting testimonies of an anthropized landscape that make it fascinating for visitors. With more than 2,500 hours of sunshine per year and an average temperature between 12° and 20° in winter and 24°-32° in summer, the Valencian region allows cycling in all its forms year-round.
For cycling enthusiasts, the region’s highlight is the Greenways: abandoned railway lines converted into slow mobility routes for walking, biking, or horseback riding, ensuring separation from motor traffic with gentle slopes and exclusive rest areas between old stations, bridges, and tunnels that light up when passed through. Thirteen Greenways cover 176 km, all in perfect condition, with further expansion projects underway.
Among the reconversion projects for cyclists, worth mentioning are the Turía Gardens, a 13 km green corridor through the city of Valencia, once the riverbed that was diverted after the 1957 flood. Originally designed to become a highway, it was turned into a green urban
lung, now used by walkers, joggers, and cyclists alike.
For more information: www.visitvalencia.com
Pisa and its Territory on the Bike
Finally, Sara Vitali, Media Relations Manager of Terre di Pisa, concluded the press conference.
The area surrounding Pisa offers a network of cycling routes that span from the Tuscan countryside to the sea, all while passing through the centuries-old villages of the hinterland and numerous cultural and artistic treasures.
Cycling lovers who venture here can experience unique moments by bike, discovering the artistic and natural beauty of the Pisa area, which includes vineyards, olive groves, and ancient villages, as well as panoramic views over the sea.
The potential for growth is strong, as evidenced by the significant increase in demand during the pandemic. For example, the longest Tuscany Cycling route, stretching 690 kilometers from Florence to Pisa, is gaining popularity.
Pisa has also become one of the most important cycling tourist destinations in Italy, hosting specialized events such as the Strade Bianche race, a prestigious gravel event and World Tour competition in the cycling world.
For more information: www.terredipisa.it
