Turismo de Canarias participated in the 21st edition of Fiets en Wandelbeurs, which was held in Netherlands this weekend and is the main international fair dedicated to travelers who practice cycling and hiking.
Turismo de Islas Canarias had its own stand at this event, which was completed with the participation of La Gomera, La Palma, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, an institutional presence that was co-financed by 85% by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
These tourists have "great value for the destination as they are more independent when booking their holidays, in addition to enjoying a longer average stay, travelling to two or more islands and being interested in the culture, gastronomy and traditions of the islands".
35% of tourists who practice hiking and 42% of those who practice cycling hire a tour package, compared to 50% of the total. In addition, the average stay is longer, with 10.7 days and 10.3, respectively, compared to 9.3 days for the whole, and they spend more hours outside the accommodation than the average.
Also their exploratory zeal is greater, since 10% of travelers from both segments visit two or more islands, compared to 7% of the total. In addition, 34.5% of the cycling segment and 42.5% of hiking segment taste Canarian gastronomy (27% of the total), visit wineries, street markets or popular festivals (21% and 19%, respectively, compared to 11% of the average) and attend more museums, exhibitions or cultural centers (19.5% for travelers who practice cycling and 23% for those who practice hiking, compared to 11% of the whole).
This is also reflected in the fact that they travel around the island more on their own than the average, which is 49%, compared to 66% of tourists who practice cycling and up to 80% of those who practice hiking.
To connect with these tourists who represent added value to the destination, Turismo de Islas Canarias attends Fiets en Wandelbeurs every year, the leading fair for these segments held in the Netherlands, which receives nearly 40,000 visitors annually who plan their vacations in advance and are willing to invest in them.
The Dutch citizen presents a strong cultural affinity with cycling and hiking and more than a third of the population uses the bicycle as their main means of transport. This connection is also transferred to travel motivation, which makes the Netherlands a strategic market for tourist products such as cycle tourism and hiking, activities that generate millions of trips and an estimated economic impact of around 1.8 billion euros.