TAT wakes up to cycle revolution

BANGKOK, 22 March 2013: Tourism Authority of Thailand says it will market cycle tourism to build length of stay and tourism-related revenue at destinations beyond Bangkok.

It made the comments on the back of promotions for the first-ever bike show in Bangkok scheduled for this May.

TAT tourism products and business deputy governor, Vilaiwan Twichasri, said: “Bike tourism (cycle not motor bikes) is a global trend that is capturing the attention of more people and it is an important additional product that boosts the country’s tourism industry.”

“The trend will help to boost tourism and create more revenue at local community and provincial level,” she said.

There are numerous cycle tour companies in Thailand and possibly the most well-known internationally is SpiceRoads, which was an early entrant in the marketing and has developed cycle tours that combine Thailand and Mekong River region routes.

But there are others that specialise in road race training such as Chiang Mai’s Crouching Tiger (literal translation of road bike in the Thai language).

Ms Vilaiwan claims the market has grown by 20%, which is a wild guess as there is no clear data on this niche market. However, the domestic cycle market is booming with shops opening in most towns led by some heavy weight stores packed with Bt200,000 up racing bikes.

“Records show the bicycle travel sector earned as much as Bt900 million in tourism revenue last year,” she added.

Again these are guess estimates to put a positive spin on a market that TAT is now waking up to, but the facts are the private sector has companies in the market that have been working this market for the last 20 years.

It is a tough and specialised market and TAT’s guess estimates may encourage some travel agents to dip a toe in the market based on the exaggerated revenue claims.

That would be a disservice to the companies that have invested heavily over the years and are  involved in the business because of their love for cycling and not the promise of big bucks.

Cycle tourism has been around for decades in Thailand, but was mainly led by groups from the Netherlands. Most of the tours start outside Bangkok and head north or to neighbouring countries Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

TAT hopes to support  bike tourism on the back of  NCC Exhibition Organiser Company’s efforts to organise the first-ever Bangkok Bike 2013 that will focus entirely on the cycle industry.

The Bt30-million budget Bangkok Bike 2013 event will be held 2 to 5 May at Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi.

“Bicycle enthusiasts will be able to get the latest on everything concerning biking while visitors will get to know see the value of Thailand’s bike tourism.”

The fair will promote itself under theme “Let’s go green” with an emphasis on recreational cycling and routes including presentations by travel gurus who have taken up cycling. TAT says the show should see a turnover of Bt200 million over the four-day event.

The Thai government recently said it was reviving the cycle  license to improve safety and road sense. Previously it was issued by the Land Transport Department, but was largely ignored by the cycle community.

Safety is a genuine concern mainly due to poor  vehicle driving standards.  As more people take up recreational cycling accidents have increased with serious and often fatal consequences for  the riders. The government’s first-car purchase grant has added to road chaos increasing the number of cars on the road that are driven by novices who rarely bother to take even the minimum required driving lessons and possibly bribe their way through the road test.

Ignorance and blatant disregard for basic road safety, drink driving and speeding are the main causes of a spike in road accidents and more accidents are involving recreational cyclists who venture out on the roads at weekends.

When asked what it was like to fall off a cycle, a famous bike racer told a motoring media personality: “Cruise at 40 kph, open the car door and jump out. Then you will know.”

Cycle tourists are generally treated with courtesy and hospitality when travelling through Thai provinces. They are at definitely at risk in downtown Bangkok from inconsiderate drivers, crowded streets, and health destroying pollution.

Sourced TTRWEEKLY