Bicycle Tourism Studio

"Bicycle Tourism Studio" to Bring New Visitors

The Eastern Oregon Visitors Association is partnering with Travel Oregon to host a free community-planning program designed to help local businesses benefit from visiting bicyclists and make Northeast Oregon a premier bicycling destination. The Bicycle Tourism Studio program will kick off with a region-wide workshop for local businesses and organizations on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cook Memorial Library, 2006 Fourth St. in La Grande (see flyer, below). Follow-up community action planning meetings will take place in Union, Baker and Wallowa counties in November.
 
Bicycle travelers contribute $400 million annually to Oregon’s economy—that’s approximately $1.1 million per day. Bicycle tourists also tend to spend $124 more per trip, 20 percent higher than the average visitor. “The northeastern Oregon region already attracts a diverse bicycle travel market, including out-of-state visitors looking for must-see landscapes and Oregonians who enjoy off-the-beaten-path locales and authentic experiences. The growing interest in destination cycling and the incredible assets our region has create a compelling opportunity to market bicycle tourism,” says Alice Trindle, executive director of the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association.
 
Anyone interested in capitalizing on the growing bicycle-travel trend and looking to increase this market in northeastern Oregon is invited to participate in the Bicycle Tourism Studio program. All lodging establishments, restaurants, cafés, brew pubs, bike shops, tour operators, retail shops and attractions, as well as public land managers, trail advocates, planners, communication specialists, community leaders, and cyclists are encouraged to participate. All participants are asked to attend both the region-wide workshop and at least one of the follow-up action planning meetings. Pre-registration is requested. There is no cost to participate.
 
Follow-Up Action Planning Meetings:
November 17, 8 a.m. to noon, at Cook Memorial Library in La Grande
November 18, 8 a.m. to noon, at Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce in Enterprise
November 19, 8 a.m. to noon, at Always Welcome Inn in Baker City

Goals of the Northeastern Bicycle Tourism Studio include:

• Strengthen awareness of bicycle tourism market and ingredients needed to be a bicycle destination
• Grow collective knowledge of cycling tourism-related projects, businesses, activities and marketing currently taking place in the region, and inventory them
• Build connections among community members, land managers, regional organizations and state leaders actively engaged in bicycle tourism, and use opportunity to engage new participants
• Identify and prioritize regional goals to foster development of appropriate bicycling infrastructure, business services and marketing activities, and motivate local action and next steps

This Studio is possible because of collaboration and help from the Northeastern Oregon Bicycle Tourism Committee, which comprises individuals from the following organizations: Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort, Baker City Cycling Classic, Baker County Tourism, Baker Loves Bikes, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Oregon Visitor Association, Joseph Branch Rail Riders, Joseph Branch Trail Consortium, Blue Mountain Single Track Trails Club, Northeast Economic Development District, Oregon Department of Transportation, Range Tour & Shuttle Co., Union County Chamber, Union County Public Works, US Forest Service Wallowa-Whitman, and Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce.