Several emerging trends are pointing to the re-emergence of the bicycle as an important
leisure and recreational transportation mode. Yet little research has been conducted into
cycling within a tourism context. This paper examines the increasing phenomenon of bicycle
tourism by defining bicycle tourists and bicycle tourism from a demand perspective, and
describes the characteristics, infrastructure and travel behaviour associated with bicycle
tourism through the examination of data collected on independent cycle tourists in the South
Island of New Zealand. It illustrates through performance-importance analysis, the areas of
major concern in the planning and management of bicycle tourism, and recommends that a
demand side perspective is needed if the supply side of the industry is to be sustainable in
the future. It makes recommendations for the future planning and management of bicycle
tourism in New Zealand that may be of interest to countries currently developing cycle
tourism. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.