With its Visitor's Center newly designated as a “Bike Friendly Business,” the City of Brookings is hosting a seminar on Thursday, January 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Emergency Operations Center to encourage other Brookings tourism-related businesses to apply for the designation.
Obtaining the designation will allow those businesses to be added to a list on the Travel Oregon website that encourages bicycling enthusiasts to seek out businesses which carry the label.
Bicycle tourism is a growing industry in Oregon and is having an increasing economic impact on communities that welcome bike visitors.
A study by Travel Oregon found that an overnight bike tourist had 19 times the economic impact of a day tourist, and that 25 percent of Oregon’s 17 million annual tourists ride bicycles while visiting. Bicycle travelers in Oregon spend $400 million annually, or about $1.1 million per day.
Through Travel Oregon, bicyclists will be able to find information on services and amenities catering to their needs via their mobile devices and on the Travel Oregon website.
“The goal here is to encourage more bike tourists to plan a stop…hopefully an overnight stop…in Brookings as a part of their travel itinerary,” City Manager Gary Milliman said. “The more Bike Friendly businesses we have, the more likely that is to happen.”
Travel Oregon will officially recognize Bike Friendly businesses that demonstrate a commitment to serving visitors who ride bikes by providing specific amenities those riders may need. Participating businesses receive special recognition and marketing exposure through Travel Oregon’s advertising network.
City staff has scheduled the workshop for local businesses which may be interested in securing a Bike Friendly Business designation. Any business that provides services to travelers is welcome to participate in the workshop. “We will have staff present to assist people in signing up for the Bike Friendly Business designation,” Milliman said.
For more information about the seminar, contact Teri Davis at tdavis@brookings.or.us or at 541-469-1102.