CYCLOTOURISM: ORIGIN AND CONCEPT OF THE WORD BASED ON KOSELLECK

ABSTRACT:

This article investigates the use of the word cycling tourism in scientific research. A variety of concepts for the word was noted, with emphasis on two situations: (i) use of a bicycle as the main mode of transport throughout the trip and (ii) use of a bicycle as one of the alternative means of transport for tourist trips in urban areas. This ambiguity led to the question of which activity is most appropriate for the use of the word cycling tourism. The investigation of the best use of the nomenclature according to the activity took, as its reference, Koselleck’s work entitled “A History of concepts: theoretical and practical Problems”. Thus, from the etymological study of the word bicycle, the relationship between the prefix cycle and bicycle was verified. In addition, the concepts of cycling tourism used by Brazilian and foreign authors were discussed. The survey showed that Brazilians use only the term cycling tourism, regardless of the activity, and that foreigners use the terms bicycle tourism and cycling tourism, but without necessarily referring to different tourist activities. Finally, it was understood that the expression Bicycle Tourism should be used to designate a tourism segment, and that it should be composed of two sub-segments: urban cycling tourism (the use of a bicycle for short tourist trips) and cycle trips (the use of a bicycle as the main means of transport throughout the trip).

KEYWORDS:
Bicycle tourism; Urban cycling tourism; Cycling trip