Westworld Saskatchewan Magazine Summer 2009 edition is out

If you're a CAA Saskatchewan member, you'll be getting your copy of Westworld Saskatchewan shortly. Don't miss the GASP 2008 story, "It’s a Gasp, Gasp, Gasp: Pushing pedals and making friends along the historic Qu’Appelle Valley", in the Getaways section.

A worldwide boom in bicycle tourism

I thought I'd take a moment to share some insights on bicycle tourism, through the following independent reports. I know that travel trade readers look for this stuff.

• Tourism New South Wales, Australia, reported in 2008 that more than half a million visitors tried a pedal-powered tourism experience the previous year, an increase of 18.5 per cent. Desire for a healthy lifestyle and greater awareness of the environmental impact of activities fuelled the burgeoning interest, Tourism NSW said, adding that cycling had become a growing niche in the tourism market. Cycle tourists stayed longer, did more and spent more while on holiday when compared with other tourists, making them a great source of income for regional economies.Cycle tourists stayed on average 5.1 nights, whereas all other types of tourists stayed an average of 3.5 nights. They engaged in an average of six activities during a trip compared with three activities for total tourists.
• A study by La Trobe University on all rail trails in Victoria, Australia, estimated a regional economic injection of $51 (Australian dollars) per person per day. According to data from Bicycle Victoria's Great Rides and Bicycle NSW's annual Big Ride (which can involve up to 8,000 cyclists or more), cycle tourers spend approximately $59 per day. Cyclists visiting the Mundaring Recreation Trails in Western Australia inject as much as $10 million per year into the local economy.
• This report from Australia's Sustainable Tourism CRC reminds us that bicycle tourism is not about the bicycling; it's about all the things that cyclists do off their bikes.
  
• This Tourism Yukon report shows the potential of bicycle tourism to that region.
• This report from Sustrans, a sustainable transport charity, describes how bicycle tourism has made an impact in the UK.
• Cycle Tourism Research Summary compiled by Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation & Culture.

What the experts say about bicycle tourists

Forget the spandex-clad, dumpster-diving, homeless long-hair hippie bum image that people seem to associate with the bicycle tourist.

Here's what the travel industry says about people who tour by bicycle:

• Touring cyclists are well educated (49% have university degree).
• They make a decent living (83% earn over $50,000 per year).
• They tend to be empty-nesters (70%), couples who no longer have children living at home.
• They mainly are older adults (66% are 35 to 54 years old; 20% are 55 or older).
• On average, bicycle tourists travel 15 days/year, often done over two or more trips.
• They like to stay at bed-and-breakfasts, hotels, motels or well maintained campsites.
• They spend an average of about $120/day, making them a more lucrative tourist clientele than average tourists, who spend less than $60/day.
• They travel mainly on quiet rural roads.

By the way, about 2000 cyclists tour through Saskatchewan annually.