DEPORTE, OCIO Y TURISMO: EL CASO DEL CICLOTURISMO EN CATALUNYA.

Abstract

Sports, leisure and tourism are increasingly close concepts that occupy an important space in our daily life. However, it has not always been this way. Traditionally, sports and tourism have operated separately from each other (Gibson, 2008); although in the last two decades considerable progress has been made towards the cohesion of these three areas. The concept of free time has been progressively focused on individual choice: leisure is the moment in which the individual can carry out activities that are not subject, at least, to mandatory nature (Donaire, 2012). Currently, many of the sports practices can be included without any doubt in the sphere of leisure, free time, personal self-realization from the moment in which these activities are the product or consequence of a lifestyle that goes beyond work and daily obligations. Work has ceased to be the most important activity for two thirds of citizens and, in the hyper-consumer society; sports tourism occupies a relevant space. This is the case of cycle-tourism, an increasingly well-known sport practice with more followers in Catalonia, which has a lot to do with sports, leisure and tourism. Those who practice cycle tourism, apart from pedaling and doing kilometers, also seek good gastronomy, relax and get to know the local culture. All this means that Catalonia has undoubtedly become a top destination for cyclists / sports tourists from all over the world.