Interview with Christian Tänzler, tourism board member and deputy national chairman of the ADFC
A look into the crystal ball: How will cycle tourism develop in 2023?
The desire to travel by bike is unbroken! The "outdoor experience" is right at the top of the travel interest rankings. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people have discovered the bicycle as a new means of travelling. And many "new cyclists" will remain loyal to their bikes. What has changed significantly, however, is the timing of travel decisions, i.e. the last-minute trend has become the last-second trend. Bookings are being made at ever shorter notice, which in some cases requires greater flexibility in the choice of destination and naturally also poses a challenge for providers.
Cycle tour region Germany
Which regions are in particularly high demand?
Like many years before, Germany as a cycling destination is the bestseller. Almost 80 per cent of cycle tourists cycle through their home country. The classic cycling regions, such as the Allgäu and Lake Constance, as well as the well-known river cycle paths on the Weser, Elbe, Rhine, Main, Ruhr, Moselle and Danube, are still very much in demand. The topic of "cycling by the water" - whether by river, sea or lake - is very often at the centre of people's travel decisions. However, less well-known cycling regions with good infrastructure are also very popular, such as the Osnabrücker Land or the Lusatian Lake District.
Can Germany still make gains as a cycling nation?
Definitely! Also because of the omnipresent e-bike trend. The group of touring cyclists is expanding significantly as a result. In addition, more and more day and weekend tours are being undertaken.
Which German regions are among the up-and-coming destinations?
Germany has great potential in addition to the well-known classic regions. The aforementioned e-bike boom in particular means that more and more people are discovering the German low mountain ranges for cycling holidays. Whether in the Harz Mountains or the Westerwald, the Bavarian Forest or the Eifel - hilly routes with a few metres of elevation gain are no longer a serious obstacle to travelling.
City tourism
Mr Tänzler, you are also the press spokesperson for Visit Berlin. What role does cycling play in city tourism?
Cycling in the city has also increased significantly due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it continues to grow. City tourists now want to get more exercise while sightseeing. Not only the classic highlights tours are interesting, but also themed excursions, such as film tours, on the trail of outstanding architecture of the 1920s or culinary tours. Guided sightseeing tours by bike are also often the perfect incentive to cover more distances by bike in everyday life.
Cycle travellers are doing something for their health, are travelling in a climate-friendly way and can keep an eye on their travel budget thanks to the variety of accommodation.
The most popular cycle holiday destinations abroad
Which destinations are particularly popular abroad?
Neighbouring countries are traditionally at the forefront here, especially the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark and northern Italy. More distant destinations are much less popular due to the longer, more difficult journey. Keyword: sustainability! Overseas cycling destinations are only of interest to a minority of one to two per cent.
Development of the e-bike industry
How is the proportion of e-bike travellers developing?
According to the ADFC cycle tour analysis, the proportion of e-bike riders is already more than 40 per cent. And it will probably continue to grow. We predict that this will lead to a further increase in local destinations within the e-mobility radius. More and more cycling holidaymakers will take trips and tours directly from their front door, especially for a (long) weekend or a short trip.
Type of trip and accommodation
How can cycle travellers travel even more sustainably?
Many cyclists would like to travel more sustainably, especially when it comes to getting there. But the quality and range of options for travelling to cycling regions by train or long-distance bus are not keeping pace with demand. There is still a lot of room for improvement here. Which is why we have been fighting a constant battle with politicians for years to achieve improvements.
Will the number of bed-and-bike hotels continue to grow?
Yes, it continues to grow! Although we experienced a slight stagnation in Germany in 2022, the number of tested cycling accommodations in neighbouring countries - such as Denmark, Austria and South Tyrol - is increasing all the time. We were also able to intensify our cooperation with hotel chains.
Travelling by bike and boat has suffered greatly during the coronavirus pandemic. How is it developing now?
River shipping recovered relatively quickly after coronavirus, and the segment will continue to grow. This in turn has been favoured by the e-bike trend, as it makes cycling more comfortable and less strenuous for the mostly older target group. What could be a limiting factor in the future is the low water level, which has severely restricted river navigation in recent summer periods.
Cycling travel trends: Gravel biking and bikepacking
Gravel biking and bikepacking are trending topics in the outdoor industry. How is the tourism environment developing?
The zeitgeist has been captured here: "Get out into nature - even in the neighbourhood." Gravel biking and bikepacking fulfil the desire to be outdoors - even among younger target groups. Although detailed figures are not yet available, the trend is likely to continue. More and more tourism associations and cycle tour operators are picking up on the topic and developing appropriate tours and offers.
The role of politics
What else needs to be done by politicians and businesses to ensure that cycle tourism can grow?
Rising numbers in cycle tourism also mean that the infrastructure must grow with it and at the same time the quality of the long-distance cycle routes must be guaranteed. Special federal funding programmes for improved infrastructure, such as for the German cycle network, must be continued and financed on an ongoing basis and not just on a project-by-project basis. In addition to the expansion of the infrastructure, however, the maintenance of the infrastructure, e.g. cycle paths, signposting, etc., must not be forgotten. Not only the local authorities, but also the federal states and the federal government are called upon to do this.
Cycling holiday destination Ireland
What is your personal dream cycle tour destination for 2023? Where do you want to go?
I haven't had a car for many years and cycle around 10,000 kilometres a year. So I will also be spending my annual holiday on my bike (without a motor). This year I will probably be travelling to Ireland.
Various cycle tour destinations
Cycle tour in Germany
Stralsund-Rügen and Moselle: double star tours
The Western Pomeranian Bodden landscape and Rügen's seaside resorts are the highlights of a new weekly tour in the Mecklenburg Cycle Tour programme. The day tours start from two locations: from the Hanseatic city of Stralsund (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and from the seaside resorts of Binz or Sellin. The change of location adds variety and possibilities to the tour. From Stralsund, you cycle through the attractive coastal region of Western Pomerania and to the island of Hiddensee. You then cycle through idyllic southern Rügen to the seaside resorts of Sellin or Binz. There, the island's major sights await with the Jasmund National Park and its chalk cliffs, Sassnitz and an excursion to the Mönchsgut. The new concept of double star tours is also used on a 6-day trip along the Moselle between Cochem and Koblenz. The cyclists stay overnight in Treis-Karden and Koblenz. The tour programme includes the historic old town of Cochem as well as excursions along the Rhine and Lahn to Boppard and the Kaiserbad Bad Ems - not forgetting a wine tasting and boat trip.
Chiemgau/Upper Bavaria: Highlights
Chiemgau in south-east Bavaria on the border with Austria is one of the most attractive cycling regions in Germany. If you want to experience as much of it as possible, you should take a look at the new individual highlights tour: 8 days, 320 kilometres through the gently rolling Alpine foothills with its many bathing lakes and through idyllic Alpine valleys with stops at Lake Chiemsee as well as in the towns of Reit im Winkl, Bad Reichenhall, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg and Laufen, which are well worth seeing. You cycle mostly on cycle paths and farm tracks and on quiet side roads. Only short sections on roads with more traffic.
Upper Palatinate: Taster cycle tour
In normal times, China By Bike offers cycle tours in Asia. However, as times are anything but normal and trips to China will probably not be possible again until autumn, Managing Director Volker Häring is leading a cycling group through his old home of the Upper Palatinate. The 12-day tour runs from Weiden via Waldsassen, Windischeschenbach, Neumarkt and Amberg to Nuremberg. A part of Germany that is (almost) still an insider tip for cycle travellers.
Ruhr area
My personal tip is the tours in the Ruhr area, an up-and-coming region in the field of cycle tourism. With many "green lungs", well-preserved mines, etc. Grey became green. All very surprising.
Cycle tour in Europe
Northern Italy: Lake Garda tour
Road cyclists and mountain bikers have been flocking to Lake Garda for years. Now more touring cyclists are sure to join them. The tip for this is the individual week-long tour from Desenzano - in the very south of the lake - with a total of 275 kilometres and five stages of 40 to 65 kilometres in length. The hotspots on the large Lake Garda circuit are the picturesque towns of Garda, Salo and Riva, Lago di Ledro and Lago d'Iseo. The fertile Adige Valley, the Sarca Valley with its castles and rock faces as well as the romantic Val Sabbia offer a constantly impressive panorama.
France/Vosges: The plateau of a thousand ponds
Around 12,000 years ago, glaciers formed a unique landscape in the south-west of the Vosges: the "Plateau des 1000 Étangs". Heathland, meadows and forests, streams, ponds and lakes form a fascinating landscape. This area can now be explored by e-bike on signposted circular routes. There are four tours for e-bikes, from 15 to 62 kilometres, including a legendary stage of the Tour de France, La Planche des Belles Filles, for the more sporty. E-bikes and guides can be booked at the tourist offices in Mélisey and Faucogney-et-la-Mer and also at Les Cycles des 1000 Étangs in Mélisey.
Southern Sweden: Skåne
Skåne is the tip for Scandinavia fans. The topography and climate in the southernmost tip of Sweden are ideal for cyclists. Public transport allows you to take your bike on board almost everywhere, and the diversity of the landscape offers excellent opportunities for leisure cyclists and those with sporting ambitions. If you want to discover a little more of Skåne, take one of the long-distance cycle paths, such as the Kattegatleden, almost 400 kilometres along the west coast, the 300-kilometre Sydostleden or the 260-kilometre Sydkustleden.
Albania
What is your personal cycle tour tip for 2023? Do you still have a dream destination?
Yes, in any case! Albania is one of the few hiking and cycling destinations in Europe that is still relatively unknown, i.e. spectacular landscapes with mountains and Adriatic beaches and lots of hospitality.
In brief
Madeira/Portugal
Green rock in the Atlantic
Yes, you can cycle on the mountainous island of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean - and not just for racing cyclists and mountain bikers. A new individual week-long tour winds its way in five daily stages of 25 to 49 kilometres over a total of around 200 kilometres on mountain roads through breathtaking subtropical volcanic landscapes. For less fit cyclists, we recommend hiring an e-bike due to the many metres in altitude.
South of France
Canal du Midi
The Canal du Midi is not an unknown cycling area. However, there are always new ways to discover the area. The "Voie verte", the green cycle path from Bram to Lavelanet, follows part of the canal and then a converted railway line for 67 kilometres. Starting in Bram, which is considered the largest circular village in Europe, cyclists can expect to discover interesting things such as 34 hazelnut varieties in Lavelanet and 20 fig varieties in Bellegarde-du-Razès.
Slovenia
Slovenia Green Gourmet Route
The smallest EU country has a new, exciting long-distance cycle route. The focus of the route, which is recommended for eleven days and covers more than 400 kilometres, is the culinary experience of the country. The route runs from Ljubljana towards Goriška Brda, through the Vipava Valley and the Karst region, back through the capital and on to Sevnica, Podčetr tek, Ptuj and Maribor. Some sections of the route can be travelled by train.
Jakobswef XXL
Bohemian Camino
A long, unusual guided cycle tour leads from Prague to Cape Finisterre on the Atlantic in Spain. The route follows the old pilgrimage route from Prague through southern Germany, France and finally the last section of the classic Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela and on to the sea. If you want to join us, you should have 65 days and at least 9,000 euros in your budget. A maximum of 16 participants can join the tour.
Long-distance travel
Israel: Cycling in and around Jerusalem
The Kerem Tunnel is the first cycle tunnel to be opened in Israel. The 2.1-kilometre route is part of the Jerusalem Ring, a 42-kilometre cycle route that circles the capital. The cycle tunnel connects the route between Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. The tunnel provides access to recreational areas and sights such as the historic settlement of Ein Kerem, as well as the Biblical Zoo and Aquarium and the historic springs of Ein Laban and Ein Haniyeh. You can hire bicycles throughout the city from the Jerufun initiative of the city council and use them to explore Jerusalem.
Nepal: On the slopes of the Himalayas
Nepal is a paradise for mountain hikers. The small country on the southern slopes of the Himalayas rarely sees touring cyclists. Yet according to insiders, Nepal has some of the most beautiful cycle routes in Asia. On this sporty 23-day tour, the maximum of 14 participants will not only experience the fascinating landscapes of Nepal with its views of the ice giants of the Himalayas and one of the most spectacular mountain passes in the world, but will also discover the many testimonies of a unique culture in the cities of Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Gorkha. Himalayan cyclists should be fit for 19 days of cycling covering a total of 1060 kilometres. Tour dates are in March and October.
Bike and boat
Croatia: The highlights of Istria
Islandhopping, the specialist for bike and boat holidays in the Adriatic and Aegean, has designed a new eight-day Istria tour for touring cyclists and e-bikers. Located between the Kvarner Bay and the Gulf of Trieste, Istria offers a magnificent holiday region. There are numerous beaches and historic harbour towns such as Pula, Poreč and Rovinj along the 500-kilometre-long coastline. The inland, on the other hand, awaits with medieval hilltop villages, picturesque wineries and green olive groves. The six daily tours of between 17 and 65 kilometres in length add up to around 240 kilometres during the week of cycling. Overnight stays are in the comfortable Andela Lora.
Baltic Sea cruise: with e-bike and luxury yacht
You don't treat yourself to anything else... On this luxury cycle cruise through the Baltic Sea, passengers sleep and dine on board the luxury sailing ship Sea Cloud Spirit. During the day, you cycle on attractive routes along the coasts of Denmark, Poland, Latvia and Sweden - a total of seven cycling days with leisurely, guided stages of between 25 and 40 kilometres, around 230 kilometres in total. E-bikes can also be hired for the cycle excursions on request. The almost two-week Baltic Sea cruise leads from Kiel via Copenhagen, Gdansk, Riga and Gotland to Stockholm.
Special e-bike tours
Greece: Cyclades
The Cyclades are the epitome of the Greek island world. Four of the most beautiful islands - Paros, Naxos, Antiparos and Santorini - are discovered on your own for 14 days by e-bike, each island distinctive and yet typical of the Cyclades: whitewashed houses, winding alleyways, barren mountain ranges with green, flowering valleys, deep blue sea under a cloudless sky, fine sandy beaches and many testimonies to Greek art and culture.
Spain: Castile
One of the country's most unspoilt regions stretches between Madrid and the Portuguese border. Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León are part of the historic central Spanish landscape of Castile. Secluded natural landscapes with wooded mountain ranges and breathtaking gorges, medieval castles and towns steeped in tradition form the backdrop for this guided week-long tour with six cycle stages between 23 and 59 kilometres in length, a total of 252 kilometres. Tours are available from Die Landpartie, for example.
Switzerland: Lugano & Co.
Lucerne and Lugano serve as starting points for guided e-bike tours in the surroundings of these attractive Swiss cities on Lake Lucerne and Lake Lugano. The transfer between the two cities is by boat and train, which is known to work quite well in Switzerland. Of course, a visit to a cheese cellar is also a must in Switzerland. By the way: The tour organiser Belvelo donates a bicycle to a school pupil in rural Africa for each tour date.
Alps: Via Rhôna
The Via Rhôna along the Rhône is the link between the Swiss Alps and the Mediterranean. The starting point of the journey - with support vehicle - is Geneva in Switzerland. From the French Alps, through the vineyards and orchards of the Côtes du Rhône and southern Provence, the cycle route leads past lavender fields and through historic cities such as Pérouges, Lyon and Avignon to Marseille. The journey takes 12 days with 8 cycle stages of between 47 and 78 kilometres, a total of 475 kilometres.
Star bike tours
Cycle tours from the holiday flat
It doesn't always have to be a hotel or guesthouse as a base for star tours. A holiday flat is the more practical solution for many cyclists, especially for families and self-catering cyclists. Velociped has put together a 6-day individual package in the Mecklenburg Lake District with overnight accommodation at the MareMüritz Yacht Harbour Resort directly on the lakeshore and a road book for various star tours. A similar package for 8 days in a holiday apartment is also available for Porto/Portugal with 6 or 7 individual tours around the attractive port wine city on the Douro.
