Posts looking for whereabouts beyond France, what better place than the Basque Country to host any stage of the Tour. Both regions share a devotion to cycling and each kilometer is experienced as a party. The Tour organization has stepped up with this year’s Grand Depart and the cyclists have responded by giving us three great stages with an impressive atmosphere.
However, it has not been Adam Yates, Victor Lafay or Jasper Philipsen the big winner of this Grand Depart. It has been the Basque Country. His commitment to the Tour implied a significant economic investment that could raise some doubts, although reality dismantles these thoughts forcefully.
Last July, the Basque Government let the population know that an investment of 12 million euros had been made to host the start of the Tour de France in 2023. Expectations were optimistic regarding recovering this investment, but the final return has broken all schemes. 135 million euros is the estimated impact in the Basque region. More than 10 times the cost of the event.
This number comes out of three main elements. The first of all, and already tangible, is the hotel full of these days, where in Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastián has touched 100% hotel occupancy. Money that has already entered the Basque economy not only through accommodation, these tourists have also eaten in local restaurants or made any type of purchase within the region.
The second has to do with the publicity that these first three stages have brought to the Basque Country. Magnificent landscapes followed one another for kilometers and kilometers during the first three days of the Tour. This factor will invite new tourists who perhaps did not know the Basque Country to visit it in the future. More tourism, greater economic impact.
And finally the cycling fever. If hosting three stages of the Tour is already a great way to publicize a region at a general level, it is an absolute bomb for cycling lovers. Having the opportunity to travel the same roads as the stars of the peloton is something unique and of all the tourism that this Grand Depart can provide, surely there will be many cycling tours.
