The Influence of Stakeholders in the Birth Stage of Bike Tourism Networks: An Exploratory Study in Italy

The purpose of this chapter is to study the birth and early stages of bike tourism networks in Italy and to identify how and why the role of stakeholders influences their structure at this stage. In particular, we analysed the cases of two recently established bike tourism networks in two Central Italy regions: Terre di Casole Bike Hub, in Tuscany, and Valle Savio Bike Hub in Emilia-Romagna. The regions hosting the two networks are different both in their general tourism offer and in their cycling culture. We adopted a qualitative methodology, in particular the multiple case study method as it is consistent with our exploratory research aim. We conducted in-depth interviews with several actors from the public and private sector involved in each of the two networks. As a result, the phases related to the birth phase for each of the networks were identified and the actions of the different actors involved were identified for each phase. Significantly, five phases emerged from the comparison of the two cases: the idea generation, the creation of the network, territory adjustment for bike tourism, the positioning, promotion, communication and placement of the project and the final phase of future expansion. Among the actors, the policymaker plays an important role in the first, second, third and fifth phases; entrepreneurs mostly in the first and third ones, and the local community exclusively in the third one. The role of the external professional is central in all phases, primarily in fourth one. The chapter provides suggestions for future research by scholars interested in tourism networks, particularly cycle tourism. Furthermore, it aims to provide managers and policy makers involved in the tourism offer of destinations with useful insights drawn by such two cases.