2021 - 2022 Far West Skier's Guide - 43

photos provided by Jim Johnson
Bicycle Tourism Shows the Responsible Way to Travel
in a Post-Pandemic World
Jim Johnson
Bike Tours Direct, President
In recent decades, tourism has fallen victim
to the " more is better " approach. More
buses. More cruise ships. More packed streets
and sidewalks. More can be better up to a
point, but many destinations passed that point
long ago.
By creating a world almost devoid of
tourism, the pandemic has provided us with a
unique opportunity - a blank slate, in effect -
to define what tourism will look like in the future.
Bicycle travel provides a superb model for
more responsible tourism, for better, more authentic
experiences, and for more comfortable
traveling.
Here's why....
1. Destinations can retain their sense
of place.
Overtourism has plagued numerous destinations
for years, if not decades. Whether due
to crowds, pollution, or other factors, overtourism
has destroyed the sense of place that made
so many destinations worth visiting. It has also
made local residents prisoners in their own
homes or caused them to feel like theme park
characters. The cost of living has forced many
residents out of homes and locations where
their families have lived for decades or even
centuries. Bicycle tourism doesn't overrun
cities with caravans of buses or with streams
of cruise ships disgorging thousands of passengers,
but rather in a slow, sustainable
manner.
2. Slow travelers spend more money locally.
Those same tourists that arrived by
coach or ship often spend little or no money
in the destinations they visit. They arrive, walk
around, reboard and leave-taking advantage of
their all-inclusive packages. Even if they do
dine or stay overnight, large groups tend to be
booked into chain hotels and large restaurants.
Bicycle travelers spend time in their destinations,
savoring shops and patronizing
small, family-owned inns and restaurants.
And, while bus tourists often focus on nonstop
point-to-point travel, cyclists make many
stops along the way, sometimes stopping at gelato
shops (speaking from very personal experience!),
cafes, family-owned wineries, and
farmers markets along the way. Most of the
cost of bicycle tours also stays local rather
than lining the coffers of large corporations.
You're supporting local tour companies, guides,
restaurants, and hotels.
3. Most bicycle tours avoid big cities and
support smaller and emerging destinations.
Even in bike-friendly Europe, big cities
aren't often on the itinerary. Instead, tours visit
villages, towns and smaller cities well off the
beaten paths and away from concentrated
populations - ideal for the post-COVID world.
Many stops along the way are emerging
destinations that rely on small-group tourism.
And some are towns and villages that don't
even want to " emerge " but instead want to attract
travelers to support their chosen way of
life, like an agriturismo in Umbria, Italy. Or a
tiny stone hamlet in the mountains of Bosnia
and Herzegovina that will never be a tourist
destination but will forever benefit from the
occasional travelers overnighting in a retired
couple's small pension.
4. We're good ambassadors and
gracious guests.
We've long referred to cycle travelers as
" two-wheeled ambassadors " , and that will be
increasingly important in the post-COVID
world. The pandemic will likely yield two conflicting
emotions: a longing and a need for the
closeness that can come from shared and interpersonal
experiences and a fear of strangers,
perhaps especially foreigners, that can come
with months of isolation and self-protection.
Will post-COVID destinations welcome us or
fear us?
At a cyclist's pace, we're able to interact
with more people and linger longer. The longer
the interaction, the better the understanding
and the greater the acceptance. As the expression
goes, we may not change the world, but
we can change their world.
5. We're good stewards of the environment.
As pollution has lifted from cities and
landscapes across much of the world, we've
gained a better sense of the impact that cars
and buses have on the environment. Yes, airplanes
do have a large carbon footprint, but
once you arrive, your impact on the environment
is minimal.
6. Small groups and being outdoors make
for more comfortable experiences.
Even after that wonderful day that
COVID-19 is behind us, we have become so accustomed
to avoiding crowds that tourism industry
experts predict that travelers will
continue to avoid groups, especially large
group travel.
By their very nature, bicycle tours consist
of small groups maintaining their distance
most of the day. This is especially true on selfguided
tours where you ride with people you
know and choose when and where to stop.
Likewise, bike tours take place outdoors
in open spaces, and frequently in rural settings.
Lower concentrations of people and freer flow
of air both reduce contagion. And even after
we've vanquished COVID-19, we're all now
more attuned to how germs spread, whether
it's the flu or a simple cold. ss
Far West Skier's Guide 2O21 - 2O22
(https:www.biketours.com)
43

2021 - 2022 Far West Skier's Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2021 - 2022 Far West Skier's Guide

Index
2021 - 2022 Far West Skier's Guide - Cover1
2021 - 2022 Far West Skier's Guide - Cover2
2021 - 2022 Far West Skier's Guide - 1
2021 - 2022 Far West Skier's Guide - 2
2021 - 2022 Far West Skier's Guide - 3
2021 - 2022 Far West Skier's Guide - Index
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