Tourism is one of the world's largest economic sectors, supporting one in 10 jobs (319 million) and generating 10,4% of GDP globally. And cycle tourism, generating over €44 billion only in Europe, was the topic of a closing plenary of the 3rd day in Velo-city 2019 Dublin full of inspiring moments. At the end of the session, Adam Bodor took time to thank the National EuroVelo Coordination Centres and Coordinators, the full EuroVelo team and the members of ongoing European projects and launched the new EuroVelo website.

The plenary session on cycling tourism was moderated by Camille Thomé, director of Vélo & Territoires and Vice President of ECF, who started by addressing the audience with a direct question: Who has been on a cycling holiday during the past year? As the room started filling with raised hands, she confirmed that cycling tourism is here to stay: "Today, Europeans are more and more concerned about sustainable tourism".

Ádám Bodor, EuroVelo Director at the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), opened the plenary with a presentation titled “Tourism of the Future”, showcasing the opportunities (uninterrupted growth even during crisis, international collaboration, etc.) but also the challenges (pollution, overtourism, seasonality, unsustainable transport, etc.) of the tourism sector. And showing how cycle tourism can contribute to that, creating around 345,000 jobs, and reducing pollution: cycle tourists are 20% more likely to take trains rather than flights, generating economic growth and emissions reduction.

At the individual level, the core for cycle tourism is health, happiness, adventure and discovery. But what cycle tourists really need is to be normalized:

“Cycle tourists should not be pictured as superheroes from Hollywood. Cycling tourism is sand and sea, it is breathing fresh air, discovery and adventure if you want. Cycle tourism can be fast or slow, it means is time for self reflexion or time with your friends – cycle tourism is for everyone.”

Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland, then talked about how cycling tourism is being developed on a national level in Ireland: as an economic driveway, especially in Ireland where it employs more people than agriculture does.

The perfect example is the successful development of the Waterford Greenway, attracting 248,000 visitors between March and December. To continue on the good track, a Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways has been published.

Orla also presented the two EuroVelo routes that cross Ireland: the EuroVelo 1 – Atlantic Coast Route and EuroVelo 2 – Capitals Route, crossing Ireland from West to East.

Finally, Ginny Sullivan from the Adventure Cycling Association in the US introduced her association: "It is our mission to inspire, empower and connect people travelling by bicycle".

In order to fulfill this mission, the Adventure Cycling Association works with strategies and goals for 5 years, clearly setting up a vision, objectives and a plan to make them reality. Ginny’s specialty is to work on the advocacy side of bicycle travel, to get safer roads for cyclists in a country that likes cars very much. They have developed the platform RideWithGPS, helping users to map their bike rides.

Their work with both the public and private sectors is instrumental for them to improve cycling tourism and better integrate bike tourism in our society. A great case study is the story of Walmart, who worked with the Arkansas State Parks Foundation and Aventure Cycling to fund the Arkansas High Country Route.

Ginny concluded with an inspiring quote, summarising her recommendations to further grow cycling tourism:

It is important to have the data, but it is even more important to turn the data into a meaningful story.