New ECF report shows large impact of cycling tourism and leisure cycling in four European countries
The report was officially presented on 30 September, at the EuroVelo & Cycling Tourism Conference 2026, by ECF's IP + Data Collection Director Holger Haubold. It is sponsored by Cyclite and analyses pre-existing studies on cycling tourism covering four leading European countries: France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
The infographics provide a quick overview of key figures from national studies and attempt to highlight similar trends, although the source studies are not directly comparable.
Main findings on cycling for leisure and cycling tourism
Cycling for fun is widely spread in the four countries analysed in the report, with 50 to 70% of the German and Dutch population cycling for leisure, and between 18 to 40% of the Italian and French population cycling during holidays.
The economic impact of cycling tourism is also significant. Germany has the highest number with €18 billion gross revenue from cycling tourists and day excursions in Germany in 2024. Whereas France has the highest growth, with +121% economic value from cycling tourism in 10 years. Average daily spending is quite high, between €53 and €105 per day, with significant differences per country.
Broader understanding of cycling tourism
A deeper dive into the report brings a snapshot of interesting trends. Leisure cycling and cycling tourism seem generally male-dominated, but with a gender gap of 10% or less. The use of e-bikes is also important, representing 51% of German cycling tourists and 44% of Dutch recreational cyclists. The vast majority of cycling tourists along seven touristic cycle routes in France are domestic, and only 14% of them are foreign visitors.
Potential for growth is high: with one out of two non-cycling tourists from Germany that could imagine going on a cycling holiday in the future, and +164% bicycle ticket sales increase in French TGV in 5 years. But an evolution in how cycling tourism is experienced is also observed as “classic” cycling trips of 3+ nights in Germany are no longer an easy sell.
Need for standardised monitoring
The conclusion of the report is clear: there is a need for common definitions and harmonised methodologies to confirm the trends presented in this report. The last European study on the topic published in 2012 estimated 2.3 billion cycle tourism trips in the EU a year and an economic value of €44 billion per year.
The European Sustainable Tourism Strategy announced for November 2026 by the European Commission is an opportunity for European institutions to seize the huge potential of cycling tourism and leisure cycling.
Article by Agathe Daudibon