comunicação realizada na Conferência ‘(Planear) O Lazer e o Turismo Ciclável em Portugal’ (6NOV09, Auditório da Reitoria da Universidade de Aveiro) – link http://turismociclavel.blogs.sapo.pt/

1. The Camel and Tarka Trails
Evidence from the UK of the economic benefits of
cycle tourism
Richard Weston
Institute of Transport and Tourism – UCLAN - UK

2. Institute of Transport & Tourism, 2
UCLan, UK

3. Tourism impacts
• Cornwall – resident population of approx 500,000
– 5m tourism visits annually – supporting 63,000
jobs – 29% of total employment
• Devon – resident population of approx 1,000,000
– 8m tourism visits annually – supporting 81,000
– 16% of total employment
Institute of Transport & Tourism, 3
UCLan, UK

4. Institute of Transport & Tourism, 4
UCLan, UK

5. Camel Trail
• Original railway built in early 1830s
• Opened in the 1970s by local authority as a
footpath (Wadebridge to Padstow – 8km)
• Unauthorised use by cyclists in early 1980s
• Extensions to Bodmin and Poley’s Bridge/
Wenford Bridge
• Now approximately 28km in length
• Around 250,000 users (cyclists) each year
Institute of Transport & Tourism, 5
UCLan, UK

6. Institute of Transport & Tourism, 6
UCLan, UK

7. Institute of Transport & Tourism, 7
UCLan, UK

8. Tarka Trail
• Began life as the Taw/Torridge Country Park,
again predominantly as a footpath
• Became the Tarka Trail in 1994
• A 48km stretch, between Braunton and Meeth,
finally opened to cyclists in 1997
• Around 120,000 users each year
Institute of Transport & Tourism, 8
UCLan, UK

9. Where does the demand come from
From analysis of the case studies and other
evidence the primary factors that determine
recreational and tourism demand are:
• The proximity of population near to the route;
• The extent to which the route is traffic free;
• The imagery or appeal of the route;
• The ease of access to the route or network;
• The quality of trail: upgraded facilities, lack of
steep gradients and good surfaces.
Institute of Transport & Tourism, 9
UCLan, UK

10. Cycle tourism demand
• The proportion of recreation and tourism users
averages 59% of all trips in the UK.
• However, there is greater use by cyclists for
recreation and tourism purposes in rural locations,
typically around 70% on rural tourist trails.
• A survey on the Camel Trail estimated this to be
as high as 97%.
Institute of Transport & Tourism, 10
UCLan, UK

11. Where does the spending go?
• Food and drink
- Cafés/Public houses/Restaurants
• Accommodation
- Bed & Breakfast/Hotels/Camping/Bunk-barns
• Cycle hire
- Less successful in the UK
• Transport
• Gifts
Institute of Transport & Tourism, 11
UCLan, UK

12. Economic impact
• On the Camel Trail the local authority estimate the
direct spending to be €3m
• This may be a significant under-estimate ( could
as much as three times this)
• Direct spending support over 60 local jobs +
others from indirect and induced effects
• Anecdotal evidence of higher local multiplier from
cycle tourism
Institute of Transport & Tourism, 12
UCLan, UK

13. Conclusions
The Camel and Tarka Trails both have:
• Large holiday populations near to the route;
• Predominantly traffic free;
• Pass through pristine countryside with changing
landscapes;
• Access directly from local towns;
• The gentle gradients and good levels of
maintenance.
Institute of Transport & Tourism, 13
UCLan, UK