Cycling

New Economic Impact Study - Cycling in Mayo

Download the Great Western Greenway - Economic Impact Case Study (PDF, 932kb)

An estimated 114,000 overseas visitors engaged in cycling while in Ireland in 2009, and accounted for €97 million of overseas visitor spend.

The cyclists who visit Ireland are typically comparatively affluent and well educated, with the ABC1 social group accounting for 87% of visitors. In gender terms there are slightly more men than women (60% and 40%). Ages range from early 30s to late 60s.

Cyclists generally travel in small groups or pairs and just over one third of overseas cyclists are repeat visitors. The most popular regions visited at present are the West and South West. On average, cyclists spend two weeks in Ireland and two-thirds of their holiday cycling.

Cycling tourists represent a growing and valuable market segment, particularly for rural areas. Cycling tourism offers opportunities for the development of cycle hire and cycling holiday operations in rural areas. It is an environmentally sustainable form of tourism with minimal impact on the environment and host communities. It provides new incentives for people to visit an area and can attract a new type of visitor.

Cycling can provide an added attraction and activity as part of a multi-activity holiday, which also helps to extend length of stay and encourage repeat visits. Cycling tourism also enhances personal health, fitness and wellbeing.

Top

Irish Cycling Tourism Strategy

Fáilte Ireland’s strategy for the development of Irish Cycling tourism (2007) recommends a designated cycling network around the country as well as an improvement of current routes with better sign posting, road surfaces and greater safety for the cyclist.  At present there are very few traffic-free routes to cater for touring cyclists who want to leave the cities to explore the countryside or for families who wish to engage in leisurely cycling. As such, cycling is not perceived as safe by overseas visitors. In addition to this, airline and ferry companies do not make it easy to transport bikes and there is currently a general lack of good quality bicycle and accessory hire facilities in Ireland.

In conjunction with local authorities and through NDP funding, Fáilte Ireland is developing cycle hub towns throughout the country to address the above challenges.

Westport, Achill, Ballyshannon, Clifden, Doolin, Killmallock, Mullingar and Skibbereen are near completion. Each hub has a number of looped cycle routes radiating from it that consist of half-day and day cycles suitable for all ages and varying degrees of fitness.

Mapboards and information panels outlining the new routes are being prepared, and the hub towns also have the necessary facilities required for cycle tourists. They are accessible by public transport and have plentiful visitor accommodation.

Our objective is to have a designated cycling network around the country.

Harris Research commissioned by Fáilte Ireland in 2008, shows that Cycling has huge potential to attract visitors to Ireland (second after walking). The principle opportunity for Cycling lies primarily in Germany, Netherlands and the UK. For many general visitors to Ireland, cycling at some stage of their holiday is an activity they would like to partake in. 

For more statistics about cycling in Ireland, please visit our Tourism Facts for Activities section.

Top

Mountain Bike Parks

Fáilte Ireland has also supported the development of mountain bike parks throughout the country on Coillte land. Three recently developed parks with looped cycle routes are in Wicklow, Galway and Limerick. These parks have been developed to international standards and are attracting visitors into rural areas, like Ballyhoura in County Limerick.
 

Back