Bike Friendly Days in Rethymno (June 1-3, 2023)

As part of these days, free guided bike tours were organized for visitors, traffic education lessons were conducted by Mr. Manolis Sfakianakis from OKA Preveli, a bicycle-themed movie was screened, and the first event – an open discussion on cycling in tourism – was held.

The Bike Friendly Days (June 1-3, 2023) were honored by the presence of member cities of the Bike Friendly Destinations network, including Sevi Vlachou, Deputy Mayor of Kos, and Vasilis Delkos, Deputy Mayor of Alexandroupolis. Both, along with Pepi Birliraki, Deputy Mayor of Tourism of Rethymno, presented their municipalities’ activities regarding cycling tourism during the forum.

In addition to the extensive presentations by the deputy mayors, representatives from local governments and tourism professionals emphasized the need for the development of cycling tourism as a vehicle for sustainable mobility and green growth. Specifically, Mayor G. Marinakis of Rethymno, M. Lioni, Deputy Regional Governor, K. Kotsoglou, Thematic Deputy Governor for Tourism of Crete, as well as tourism industry leaders including G. Pelekanakis, President of the Hellenic Federation of Hotel Managers, M. Vlatakis, President of Crete’s Travel Agents Association, M. Tsakalakis, President of the Hotel Association of Rethymno and the Hotel Association of Crete, G. Sfakianakis, President of the Pancretan Association of Hotel Managers, and M. Tatarakis, President of the ATLAS Cycling Club of Rethymno and representative of the Hellenic Cycling Federation, all expressed their participation in efforts to develop sports and cycling tourism.

Experts already working in cycling tourism shared insights into the sector’s characteristics and its clientele.

A particularly interesting presentation was given by Katerina Kapella, Marketing Manager and representative of the German travel agency Attika Reisen, regarding cycling tourism in Germany. Ms. Kapella mentioned that the largest growth in cycling tourism is observed in Europe, a market estimated globally at more than half a billion euros, with annual growth of nearly 15%.

She also noted that while around 4 million Germans went on cycling holidays in 2021, the market is expected to reach 5 million by 2023. She referred to the increasing demand and use of electric bicycles, with estimates showing that 42% of bikes used in Germany in 2021 were electric, with this number expected to reach 48% by 2023. “This is a significant trend that tourism businesses in Greece should take into consideration,” she emphasized. In concluding her presentation, Ms. Kapella highlighted the environmental benefits of bicycle use, and by extension, cycling tourism, as well as the social advantages, such as the health benefits for people who cycle. Cycling is an activity that can be enjoyed in groups and is an efficient, economical mode of transportation for short distances.

She concluded her presentation by noting that Attika Reisen is heavily involved in the development of cycling tourism packages and is interested in collaborating with similar businesses, emphasizing that there are approximately 4,000 travel agencies worldwide interested in developing this type of product.

Vicky Karantzavelou, General Manager of NatTour and Editor-in-Chief of TravelDailyNews, also addressed the event, presenting the Bike Friendly certification network. Christos Petreas, Scientific Advisor to the network, spoke about the advantages of developing cycling tourism in tourist destinations as a form of sustainable development.

He mentioned that cycling is an environmentally friendly mode of transport chosen by nearly 50% of EU citizens (according to Eurobarometer 2016). Revenues from cycling tourism activities are estimated at 44 billion euros, with 30% of cycling tourists opting for holidays lasting up to 7 days and 32% for holidays of up to 14 days.

Greece, with its unique natural environment, is well-suited for cycling tourism. In a previous survey of German cyclists, nature and landscapes were identified as the primary interest for cycling holidays (87%), followed by the use of bicycles for health and well-being (83%), while—an interesting fact for Greece—28% of cyclists choose to visit cultural landmarks by bike.

G. Galanakis, Vice President of Rethymno’s Travel Agents Association, shared his experiences regarding cycling tourists and their needs.

Finally, Vangelis Petroulakis, from the Ibiscos Garden Hotel, a certified Bike Friendly hotel, presented the basic criteria and services offered by an organized cycling station within the hotel, required to accommodate cycling tourism, such as:

• Mentioning cycling services either on the hotel’s website, in the brochure, or in a special leaflet provided free to guests.
• A map of the area with cycling routes in printed or digital form (free service).
• A secure storage space for bicycles or collaboration with a nearby facility (free service).
• Availability of a toolset (free service).
• Laundry and drying facilities with same-day service (in-house or off-site, paid service).
• Bicycle rental and repair services either within or near the hotel (paid service).

Mr. Petroulakis, who was named Cycling Tourism Ambassador for Rethymno, as a pioneering cyclist and cycling tourism advocate, emphasized the excellent feedback from cyclists so far.

The event was attended by deputy mayors and municipal councilors from Rethymno, Agios Vasileios, and Amari, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, members of the Tourism Committees of Rethymno and Agios Vasileios, members of the Hotel Association, hotel directors, professors and students from the University of Crete, the Technical University of Crete, the Public Vocational Training Institute (IEK), representatives of the Traffic and Tourist Police departments of Rethymno and Agios Vasileios, as well as local and national media representatives.

The active participation of Rethymno businesses involved in bike rentals and sales, as well as guided cycling tours, played a significant role in the event’s success.

The three-day event concluded with a Health Bike Ride on World Bicycle Day, Saturday, June 3rd, organized by the ATLAS Cycling Club, with the presence of G. Kapetanakis, President of the Panhellenic Federation of Cancer, Mayor G. Marinakis, deputy mayors, employees of the Grecotel hotel group, school representatives, and many families from Rethymno.

The Municipality of Rethymno warmly thanked all those who contributed to and participated in the events and hopes for positive results in the near future.