Everyday Cycling Mobilities and Tourist Behaviour: The Emergence of Cycle Tourism as COVID-Secure Activity

The extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic have evidently led to increased levels of cycle commuting and cycle tourism closer to and around the home (we refer to this as everyday cycling mobilities). Cycling is a popular tourism pursuit in Japan and in the pandemic era, is acknowledged to be a COVID-secure activity. In response to, and drawing from the theory of planned behaviour, examining the relationship between the COVID-secure perspective and the intention to perform tours via cycling mobilities in Japan is the underlying aim of this exploratory study. Further, analyses are informed by an online survey approach and contextualised with hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Findings emphasise that COVID-secure perspective is negatively associated with intention to tour as part of everyday cycling mobilities, whereas attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control show positive association. This has implications for everyday cycling mobilities and cycle tourism. COVID-related advice should be developed and disseminated not only to cycling enthusiasts but also to the general public in order to emphasise and reinforce the COVID-secure nature of this mode of tourism. Consequently, the rise in popularity of everyday cycling mobilities and touring, sounds a clarion call to ensure that any ensuing expansion pays heed to responsible tourism concerns.