After a first edition with 15,000 visitors, Italy’s first fair dedicated to bike tourism is gearing up for a second edition with many new features: from its new location in Bologna to its increasingly international profile, showcasing destinations and bicycle accessory producers.
Bologna – Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2, 2023, the Bike Tourism Fair organized by Bikenomist returns at the DumBO space in Bologna. This event is a must for both national and international bike tourism enthusiasts.
The Bike Tourism Fair is Italy’s first event entirely dedicated to those looking for their first bike tourism experience or their next pedal-powered adventure. The two-day event will provide a comprehensive overview of family-friendly vacations, adventures for cycling enthusiasts, training for athletes, and everything needed for an unforgettable cycling experience.
This year’s edition brings exciting new features: new exhibitors, a new venue, a more international outlook, and a dedicated B2B day on Friday, March 31, for industry professionals.
More Exhibitors
After a first edition focused solely on tourist destinations and tour operators, the 2023 edition opens its doors to producers of bicycle tourism accessories.
Once again, alongside the exhibition area, the event will feature Bikeitalia Talks: presentations and discussions with the public to share travel stories, destinations, approaches, and strategies for overcoming doubts and embracing sustainable exploration.
The Bike Tourism Fair is a unique event where visitors can find all the details they need to plan cycling itineraries, choose the best bike-friendly destinations, and access top-notch services for their trips.
Moreover, exhibitors will have the opportunity to meet a select and interested audience, engage with potential business partners, and create new commercial opportunities.
Some of the first confirmed exhibitors include regions from Spain, Turkey, and Croatia, as well as Sicily and Calabria from Italy.
A New Location
The Fair moves from Milan to Bologna, welcoming visitors to an over 40,000-square-meter space at DumBO, just steps away from the central train station.
“We are delighted that the second edition of the Bike Tourism Fair is taking place in Emilia-Romagna, a region that has heavily invested in developing bike tourism. Bologna, in particular, has warmly welcomed us and has always been committed to promoting active mobility,” said Pinar Pinzuti, Director of the Bike Tourism Fair and a board member of Eurovelo.
“Bike tourism is steadily growing in Italy, but it’s often foreign operators who benefit most. It’s essential to develop a local market of services catering to bike tourists. That’s why we’re honored to host the Bike Tourism Fair here in Bologna. Interest is high, and the territory has immense potential. With Bologna’s 1,000 km of Bicipolitana bike routes, the city is making significant investments in transitioning from disposable tourism to slow tourism, which can be enjoyed year-round. It’s about truly experiencing well-being and harmony with the surrounding environment,” said Simona Larghetti, Bologna City Councilor responsible for Cycling Mobility.
A Growing Sector
National bike tourism is following international trends, gaining increasing economic importance and attracting both local and foreign visitors in recent years.
Italians are increasingly opting for active vacations. According to a preview of the 3rd National Report on Bike Tourism in Italy by Isnart for the Observatory on Tourism Economics, created in collaboration with Legambiente, the full report will be presented during the Bologna Fair.
For 2022, an estimated 31 million overnight stays are attributed to bike tourists, accounting for 4% of Italy’s total stays so far. While partial, these figures are encouraging, indicating a recovery in this unique segment of Italian tourism, driven in part by international visitors.
The economic impact of bike tourism is also significant: bike tourists’ vacation spending in 2022 is estimated at nearly 4 billion euros.
Specifically, there is notable growth in “pure” bike tourists—those for whom cycling is a primary reason for choosing their destination. In 2022, this group is expected to account for 8.5 million overnight stays.
Further momentum for the bike tourism sector will come from the General Mobility Plan, published in the Official Gazette on October 12, 2022. This crucial document outlines actions for promoting cycling at all levels.
The plan allocates 1.2 billion euros, with 943 million already designated.
Regarding bike tourism, the plan details interventions to develop national cycling routes, starting with the system of ten national cycling routes that form part of the National Cycling Network (RCN) defined by Article 4 of Law No. 2/2018.
For contacts and to exhibit at the Bike Tourism Fair: [email protected]
Press releases are available for download on the website’s press section.
