Cycleway needs to be pedalled to tourists

Photo / Christine McKay

The tourism industry has welcomed the first routes in the Government's cycleway project but warned strong marketing and community support will be needed to make them a success.

Prime Minister John Key yesterday announced seven routes that will be started in time for summer and cost $9 million. The Government has allocated $50 million to the cycleway project over the next three years.

Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossar said it was great to see that work on the first projects would progress swiftly.

But the effort required to attract cyclists should not be underestimated.

"The Otago Rail Trail took nearly a decade to reach the level of popularity it now enjoys. For these trails to be successful, they will need strong marketing investment and strong local community support."

Cossar said there needed to be experiences to allow interaction with local people.

"Planners will also need to consider everything from safety and quality to ensuring that the necessary facilities, rest stops and range of rides, offering different skill levels, are available."

A marketing budget would also be needed for regional tourism organisations to be able to make the most of the potential financial returns. The association has pushed for an increase in marketing spend since October last year and Key, who is also the Tourism Minister, has promised more news on this by the end of the year.

Geoff Gabites, owner of Adventure South which runs guided cycling tours, described the new trails as "brilliant". His company be contacting trail organisers to find out what infrastructure was in place to begin setting up tours.

Gabites said there was huge demand from New Zealanders and Australians wanting more cycle trails.

Until now there has been a lack of trails in New Zealand and Gabites had been sending Kiwis who have done the Otago Rail Trail and want more to Australia and as far away as Japan to get more cycling experiences.

He expected demand to come from mostly the domestic market as 75 per cent of his clients were from New Zealand. Most touring cyclists were over 45 and proportionally more were female.