Motorcycle Tourism: Are You In?

May 17, 2017

South Burnett hotel, accommodation, food and fuel operators who want to join the region’s push to attract motorcycle tourism need to put up their hands soon.

Tourism portfolio chair Cr Danita Potter told Wednesday’s Council meeting the South Burnett Motorcycle Tourism steering committee has already begun mapping our tours visiting bikers can take.

And if local businesses want to be recommended as stopping points along the way, they need to register their interest before the end of June.

At the steering committee’s most recent meeting, members heard most motorcyclists like tours that take them through different landscapes and don’t require them to cover the same roads twice.

They also like to take a break every two to two-and-a-half hours, and when they do, like to stop off at spots where they can get refreshments or find a place to stay the night.

Steering committee members are in the process of documenting a variety of motorcycling trails around the South Burnett that meet these criteria.

But rather than recommend every single business, they only want to recommend those that welcome motorcyclists and can offer them something special.

The idea could potentially bring big business through local operators’ doors.

Steering committee president Mark Smith belongs to a group of Harley motorcycle riders headquartered on the Sunshine Coast, and said it wasn’t uncommon for some rides to attract between 40-60 motorcyclists.

“When we plan to stop for lunch, we usually try to ring ahead because most country cafes just can’t handle that number of customers if we don’t give them advance notice,” he said.

“And sometimes – in some towns – we might split ourselves across three or four cafes just so we can all get a feed in a reasonable amount of time.”

Mark said in his experience, not every business welcomed motorcyclists, so it was important to have businesses join up who were on board with the motorcycle tourism concept.

“Studies show the average motorcyclist spends around $160 a day on food and drink, fuel and accommodation because unlike caravanners, they can’t bring these things with them,” Mark said.

“This is about four times the average $30 to $40 per day caravanners spend, so it’s a market worth chasing.”

The group have already set up a Facebook page – Bikers To The Burnett – and interested South Burnett businesses should like the page and leave a comment on it by June 30 if they want to be considered as a recommended destination.

Related articles:

• Motorcycle Push Revs Up
• Meeting Will Map Out Motorcycle Plans
• South Burnett Now Motorcycle Friendly
• Region Plans To Welcome Motorcyclists

  Tourism