Split-Dalmatia County Expects Earnings of 5 Million Euros from Cycling Tourism in 2017.

Just three years ago, it was hard to believe that central Dalmatia would become one of the most desirable European cycling destinations. Split-Dalmatia County had no marked cycling paths, no infrastructure, trained bike guides, or accommodation for cyclists. However, thanks to the ambition of the county’s tourist board and the Cycling Association of Dalmatia, along with cooperation from local tourist boards and local government, 77 paths totaling 2,700 kilometers were realized in record time. The cycling paths are marked on four cycling maps and on the central cycling tourism website of Split-Dalmatia County in four languages.

The Ministry of Tourism co-finances beaches, visitor centers, and cycling tourism

– Everything started with the development of the Cycling Tourism Development Strategy and the Regulation on the Development of Cycling Tourism and Marking of Paths in Split-Dalmatia County. At that time, our goal was to reach Istria in cycling tourism, which we have now achieved – after less than three years. However, they reached that level in 15 years with several employees and an agency dealing with cycling tourism, while we accomplished it in five times shorter time, with volunteers and very little funding, emphasizes Joško Stella, director of the Split-Dalmatia Tourist Board.

The realization of cycling paths began in the Dalmatian hinterland, which in the areas of Sinj, Trilj, Vrlika, Dugopolje, and Klis has a total of 30 cycling paths with a length of 800 kilometers. This was followed by the Makarska Riviera, which has six cycling paths with a length of 250 kilometers. Then, Hvar received 13 cycling paths with a length of 450 kilometers, followed by Brač – which, with 25 paths totaling 1,050 kilometers, is the island with the largest number and length of cycling paths in Croatia and is among the leaders in the world. In the area of Vrgorac in the Dalmatian hinterland, three paths with a length of 150 kilometers have already been marked, and the project is expanding to the Imotski area.

Cyclists do not ask about the price

Today, cyclists come to central Dalmatia for preparations before the racing season, clubs come for races, as well as recreational cyclists who ride marked paths or race routes, and tourists who explore the destination by bike during their vacation.

– Cyclists are highly educated and high-income hedonists who do not ask about the price of “enjoyment.” Their season lasts all year round, and they are least present from July 1 to August 15, which suits us, as all tourist capacities in Dalmatia are filled during that time, says Stella.

He is particularly proud of the mobile application that works with QR codes, which is – he says – a world premiere in cycling tourism, as well as the 26 trained and certified bike guides who have no day off until the end of October.

– We have also started certifying bike hotels, bike&bed accommodations, bike-friendly accommodations, and bike agencies. We have made significant progress in the number of professional and recreational cycling races, so now we have two world races, five national races, and about twenty recreational races. From cycling tourism, our county expects earnings of 5 million euros next year, and in 2018, earnings are planned to exceed 10 million euros.

Investments in cycling tourism will continue. By the beginning of 2017, central Dalmatia will receive 50 new paths totaling about three and a half thousand kilometers in the areas of Imotski, the Split Riviera, and the islands of Vis and Šolta, as well as five new cycling maps, and by the end of next year, with the completion of the western Split Riviera, another thousand kilometers of paths will be added.

Author: Alma Radoš, Lollipop Communications