"In three months, I had six different nationalities": Hauts-de-France attracts more and more cycle tourists

With the proliferation of cycle routes, cycle tourism is becoming increasingly popular. The Hauts-de-France region has recorded more than a million cyclists using its routes.

Cycle tourism is in vogue. No longer do you need a car to admire the beaches of the North. With the proliferation of cycle routes, cyclists now have preferred routes in the Hauts-de-France region. The best-known cycle route in the region is the Vélomaritime: 1,500 kilometers of cycle path, from Roscoff in Finistère to Dunkirk in the North.

In 2024, 622,297 cyclists used the Vélomaritime, and sensors were installed to measure the number of people on this cycle-only route. "You see other things on a bike," explains Françoise. " You see housing developments, you take detours. There's really been an effort made on this Vélomaritime with regard to paths and cycle paths. I hardly ever use my GPS; the signage is extraordinary. It's impressive."

These cycle tourists are a new clientele for businesses. Campsite managers are grappling with the arrival of these tourists. "We've had Danes ," enthuses Angélique Minnie, director of the Réguèn Park campsite in Berck-sur-Mer. "We've had people from all over, along with regular groups of Belgians. They sometimes have a small coffee or a croissant and then they continue on their way." These tourists never stay long, not enough to explode the turnover. "It's a night or two. It's still small, but it's growing more and more. We'll see in a few years."

Others are banking heavily on two-wheelers. Romain Gaillot has just opened a bar, "Berckail." In front of the entrance to his establishment, there are numerous bicycles, which the manager rents out. He's trying to attract new customers—new tourists—with his beer and bicycle combo. "I believe in it. Without the Vélomaritime, the idea wouldn't have occurred to me. You can imagine, three months after opening, I've already had six different nationalities. There are a lot of French people, of course. Many are discovering the Opal Coast."