Category: Tourism & Travel

1. Motorcyclists and the UK tourist indust

   Posted on 10:09am Friday 18th Jun 2010

   The warmer weather has started, the World Cup has kicked off and as the first signs of summer are underway the MCI can reveal that motorcycle-related tourism expenditure in the UK is around £569 million, supporting approximately 13,250 tourism jobs. 

   A survey carried out for the industry by GHK researched the impact of bikers on the tourist industry and found that the average motorcycle tourist is spending around £380 per annum taking into account food, drink accommodation and other services.

   The South West is currently getting the most out of motorcycle tourism receiving 17.3% of the total spend. The South East (11.2%), London (11.2%) and the North West (11.1%) are the runners up.

   Motorcycle usage is very seasonal and is twice as high between May and August as it is between December and February.  This is likely to be because it is more enjoyable and safer to ride during good weather conditions, but is also likely to be indicative of the strong links between motorcycling and tourism.

   Hoteliers, restaurant owners and other tourist related organisations could be getting more money from the bike pound, especially as since last year more people have been choosing to stay in the UK for their holidays. There is also an untapped market in European tourists, who currently come to the UK in much smaller numbers than UK riders travel abroad.

   Providing secure parking, advertising as bike-friendly and extending promotion in the right areas could easily increase the number of motorcyclists and capitalise on a growing market.

   Number of Visitors - 23,000 international riders visit the UK  compared to around 100,000 independent riders from the UK who take tourism related motorcycling trips abroad each year, so with the right promotion and marketing there is a lot of potential to attract more non UK tourists.

   Current Spend of Overseas Tourists - Overseas motorcycling tourists are estimated to account for £17 million of motorcycling-related tourism (2008 prices) - which gives rise to an additional net additional economic impact at the national level.  This excludes expenditures of overseas visitors at UK sports and leisure events.

   Supporting Jobs - The total tourism spending associated with motorcycling supports more than 13,000 tourism jobs in the UK, of which approximately 400 are supported by expenditure from overseas 'motorcycling' visitors.

   Steve Kenward, MCIs CEO commented, ' This survey has shown us that the UK tourist industry is making important financial gains from motorcyclists. At the moment, there are certain areas in the UK that are seeing bigger gains, but there is a huge untapped market for the tourist industry to tap into.

   "Currently, we only receive about one quarter of the number of riders that travel abroad from the UK, so we should be looking to attract more overseas visitors as well as improving the ' tourist' experience for British motorcyclists. Providing secure parking, offering discounts for groups, creating links with sporting events and generally offering a bike- friendly environment will lead to longer stays, more spending and happier customers."

2. No Room for the Kitchen Sink....

   Posted on 10:20am Thursday 17th Jun 2010

   Motorcycling road safety initiative RideSafe BackSafe is urging any motorcyclists planning a long distance tour this summer to be properly prepared and plan ahead. It is estimated that nearly 1.5 million people in Great Britain own a motorcycle. The highest number since the early Eighties and many of them will head off for European holidays on two wheels during the next few months.  

   Motorcycling holidays or ‘tours’ require as much preparation as any other holiday, as RideSafe BackSafe Communications Manager, Emma Kelly, explains;  “ Everybody going abroad needs to take the basics, such as a valid passport, tickets, suitable travel insurance and so on, but there is much more to it for motorcyclists. Wearing the right protective clothing, servicing the machine before hand and travelling light are all important. We know of a few incidences of motorcyclists being injured, simply as a result of luggage and straps working loose, getting entangled in the rear wheel and causing them to crash. Securing luggage properly, keeping the centre of gravity low by how you pack the heavy items and adjusting tyre pressures for a fully laden bike are just a few of the unique prerequisites for safer travel on two wheels “.

   Some motorcyclists will organise just one or two holiday tours a year and the way the bike behaves with a rider and a pillion passenger and holiday luggage on board can be unfamiliar. The RideSafe BackSafe team are recommending that owners visit their local motorcycle dealership to take expert advice and ensure that they have covered everything from headlight adjustment to suspension settings.                                                                                                         

   Emma Kelly continues;  “Motorcycling enthusiasts will regularly just hop on and enjoy a short ride-out during the summer months, but taking a week to ride up to 2,000 miles across five countries and mountain ranges is an adventure that needs careful planning“.

   For more dedicated road safety advice and to view a 25-point Motorcycle Tour Planner, go to www.ridesafebacksafe.co.uk

3. UK bikers are already a lucrative market as they contribute nearly £400 million to UK tourism

   Posted on 10:04am Friday 14th Aug 2009

   In its survey of more than 2,000 riders and non-riders from across the UK, the MCI found that 84% of the UK's 1.5 million riders prefer to holiday by motorcycle for holidays, short breaks and days out - even though the majority have access to a car.

   One-quarter of riders use motorcycles as their preferred mode of transport to enjoy days-out in the UK. One-in-six take weekend short-breaks by bike and one-in-fifteen holiday on two-wheels . The average spend by motorcyclists is £68 per day on accommodation, food and entertainment.

   In the current economic climate, where the tourism industry is encouraging British people to enjoy a 'staycation', it would seem wise to capitalise on the potential European bike market too.

   "Holidaying by bike is an excellent way of seeing more of the UK's tourist attractions and stunning scenery at your own convenience.  It contributes a significant amount to local and national tourism and now is a good time for the UK to try and open this up to markets further afield."   Mark Wilsmore of Ace Cafe London said "As a destination venue, motorcycle tourism is increasingly important.  At the cafe we ensure that we give riders a reason to get out and enjoy riding their bikes and visit us".

4. 2009: Year of the Great British holiday

   Posted on 10:09am Monday 26th Jan 2009

   THE falling pound could mean a summer boom for the British tourists industry, according to a New Year forecast from the Caravan Club.

   For 2009 it looks like the “Great Escape” will become the “Great British staycation” as people rediscover the delights of domestic breaks at a choice of some 3,000 destinations UK-wide. Quarterly travel and tourism figures released by the Office of National Statistics show that the number of visits abroad by UK residents was down by 6% for the three month period between August and October 2008 compared with the previous quarter; and in a recent survey by VisitBritain, the majority said they would consider British holidays.

   And the statistics show that although 90% of British people claim to be saving money in this tough economic climate, few plan to cut back on holidays. In light of the decrease in overseas visits, this suggests that Brits are still holidaying, but doing so without leaving the country.

   Nick Lomas, Director of Marketing for the Caravan Club said, “We confidently predict that 2009 will be the year that welcomes the return of the great British holiday, something Caravan Club members have enjoyed for over a Century.”