Businesses across Tasmania will be able to enter an accreditation program be “mountain bike-friendly” after a new statewide strategy was launched in Launceston.
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The strategy will be delivered by the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania and is funded by the state government under their draft cycle development plan.
TICT chief executive Luke Martin said the accreditation would help mountain bike tourists to find and source businesses that supported the hobby.
“It will mean businesses will be able to engage this market to show that Tasmania doesn’t just have world-class trails but it has industry that supports it too,” he said.
Bike-friendly accreditation programs exist in other mountain bike countries around the world, such as Canada, but Mr Martin said he believed the Tasmanian program was the first in Australia.
The move to establish the program was directed partially by the state government but partially by industry.
“We have had a lot of businesses contacting us to find out how they can engage and access this growing market [mountain bike tourists], Mr Martin said.
The first two businesses to sign up to the program, Vertigo Mountain Bikes at Derby and Country Club Tasmania, were presented with their accreditation certificates on Tuesday.
Vertigo’s Buck Gibson said the accreditation would help them to improve their services to create an even more engaging experience for their customers.
The bike business was established 18 months ago but has only been at Derby for about 12 months.
It offers bike hire and trail drop-off services for those interested in roaming the trails in the North-East.
“We have already had inquiries for next year’s summer season and we still are finding we have interstate and international visitors still at Derby,” he said.
He said he had seen a marked increase since establishing business in the region 12 months ago.
Mr Martin said in an ideal world all the businesses at Derby would sign up to the program.
The state government gave $15,000 to fund the program. Those interested in participating in the program can contact TICT on 6231 2244.