This is from a West Virginia article on trails:
. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The vast number of trails and the variety of settings in West Virginia
provide the basis for an outstanding statewide trail system. However, enhanced efforts to link
individual facilities into a cohesive trail network are needed. When coupled with an aggressive
marketing campaign, there can be little doubt that the state can substantially increase the number
of out-of-state visitors drawn to a well-planned trail system. In addition to the general
financial gains resulting from increased tourist visitation, other economic benefits associated
with trail development include enhanced property values and increased local and state tax
revenues. Studies conducted in recent years include the following relevant examples:
. The Impact of Rail Trails; Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program of the National
Park Service, Washington D.C., 1992. This study of users on three rail-trail projects found that
users spent an average of $3.97 to $11.02 per day, generating an annual impact of $1.2 million or
more on each trail. The survey documented that local users and visitors also spend as much as $250
per year on trail-related equipment, clothing, books and accessories. The trails attracted
spending by non-county residents ranging from $294,000 to $630,000 each year.
. A Look at Visitors on Wisconsin's Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail; University of Wisconsin Extension
Service, Madison Wisconsin, 1988. Semi-primitive and rural trails with historic or natural
characteristics that encourage "vacation-style" trips were found to generate more revenue per mile
than urban and suburban trails used for light recreation and commuting. The study by the
University of Wisconsin's Extension Service found that spending by out-of-state visitors for
lodging, bike rentals, bus shuttle service and restaurant meals was twice as high as for in-state
visitors. A survey of trail users in Minnesota found that users who traveled 25 miles or less to
the trail spent an average of just $.61 to $2.68 per day, while those traveling 25 miles or more
spent up to $53.20 per day on average.
. The Effect of the Burke-Gilman Trail Upon Property Values of Adjacent and Nearby Properties and
Upon the Property Crime Rate in the Vicinity of the Trail; The Seattle Engineering Department,
Seattle Washington, 1986. A survey of real estate agents conducted for this study revealed that
properties located within two blocks of the trail were easier to sell and carried a price premium
of about 6.2%. A survey of homeowners found that 75% of owners along the trail felt their homes
would be easier to sell and 48% expected a value premium. Only 4% of homeowners felt their homes
would sell for less. Crime and other problems along the trail were reported to be minimal to
nonexistent. No respondents felt the trail should be closed. Each of these studies indicates that
substantial economic benefits result from trail development. From increasing revenue in rural
communities to boosting property values, trails are a proven economic resource.
--
alan
Anyone who believes in a liberal media has never read the "Daily Oklahoman."
"Brent Hugh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:Someone from our state division of tourism was asking about research into average spending (per
day, per trip, etc.) by bicycle tourists.
Do any of you know any good research in this area?
Below is what a quick google search picked up, just FYI:
elena.aut.ac.nzaussieOpen ↗ touring.html
Quoted message said:
Research by Tourism Victoria has shown (Hopkins 1999), backpacker tourists (of which cycle
tourists are a subset) spend less per day - about Aus$59 (US$36) - than the average overseas
tourist, but stay longer and thus tend to spend about double the average per capita.
According to data from Bicycle Victoria's Great Rides and the Bicycle Institute of NSW's Big Ride,
local cycle tourists spend about this amount per day, too. The spending of cycle tourists tends to
be of kinds that have high multiplier effects, estimated at around 2.6 by the Bureau of Resource
Economics, in local economy and employment.
------
lgc.orgwalk to money.pdfOpen ↗
Tourists coming to Vermont to walk and bicycle in the scenic, human- scale towns and compact,
pedestrian-friendly town centers have proved to be an economic boon. In 1992, an estimated 32,500
visiting cyclists spent $13.1 million in Vermont about twice the amount of money generated by
Vermont's maple syrup producers in a good year.
Source: Bicycle Touring in Vermont and Vermont's Scenic Byways Program, Bruce Burgess for the
Vermont Agency of Transportation, 1995
----
parkweb.vic.gov.au08 0538.pdfOpen ↗
Average UK expenditure was £146 (US$232) per trip, or £30-35 ($48-56) per night. (Source: Sustrans
Cycle Tourism Information Pack TT21,
1998).
VTCC Stepping Out brochure evaluation (2000) indicated Victorian trip spending of between Aus$200
(US$123) and Aus$1200 (US$740), and average Aus$400-Aus$500 (US$247-US$308) per trip.
------
Here is contact info for Sustrans:
"Sustrans publishes a comprehensive guide to standards for the construction of the National
Cycling network. They live at 35 King Street Bristol. Tel. 01179 268893
"Website www.sustrans.org.uk
"Sustrans also produce a very good information pack (number TT21) explaining the possibilities and
benefits of developing tourism called, logically enough 'Cycle Tourism'."
----------------------
Brent Hugh/bhugh @ mwsc.edu
+++++++++++++++++ Brent Hugh / bhugh @ mwsc.edu +++++++++++++++
+ Missouri Western St College Dept of Music, St. Joseph, MO +
+ Piano Home Page : staff.mwsc.edu~bhughOpen ↗ +
+ Music IQ Songs : mp3.comMusicIQOpen ↗ + ++ Music of the Human Genome :
mp3.combrent d hughOpen ↗ ++++
