The Zeppelin Times 4CRB Travel Show...after the wedding, but not during the special 22 minutes, when Prince Harry wed Meghan Markle. The weather was perfect for the big event, capping

Electric bike revolution energises active travel

You see them in Germany, in Britain and in many other places – bands of tourists zipping through cities and scenic spots riding electric bikes. Tour operators, including those in Australia, are full of praise for the machines, which they say are revolutionising the active travel industry.

Keen cyclists, who feared age or weak knees were about to end their days of cycle touring, are finding they can pedal on for years longer – perhaps even decades.

UTracks general manager, Kate Baker says the electric bike trend has exploded in Europe, with e-bike sales on the continent more than doubling from 600,000 in 2010 to 1.35 million in 2016.

In response to this surge in popularity, UTracks is offering electric bikes on 80% of its 187 cycling itineraries across the European continent this year – a huge jump from 2015, when UTracks offered ebikes on just a handful of its active bike holidays.

“Essentially, e-bikes are fitted with an electric motor that adds a speed boost when pedalling, giving the cyclist a

helping hand or push to get up and over hills and achieve longer distances,” Baker said.

“As long as you recharge the battery, which can be easily done in a few hours or overnight, you can count on the e-bike to help you when you are going uphill, cycling in headwinds, covering longer distances or simply want to take a break from hard pedalling.

“An e-bike can be ridden by almost anyone and makes the journey physically easier without taking away from the adventurous spirit of a cycling trip.

“With an e-bike anyone can join in: from couples or families with differing degrees of ability to people who do not feel confident enough to do a longer tour on a traditional bicycle or perhaps love the idea of a more demanding cycling route but are not sure whether they can physically complete it.

“For example, myself and my 12 year old daughter cycled the mountainous coastline of the Ionian Islands in Greece – something she could not have achieved this without an e-bike – at least not with a smile on her face.

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“It is also a confidence booster for someone contemplating their first cycle tour – knowing they can boost their input with an e-bike is very comforting. And for those who are slowing down and don’t want to take up too much of an active challenge, an e-bike is the perfect way to continue this wonderful style of travel without the physical demands.

“We are also seeing older travellers who have been avid cyclists for many years swapping their regular bikes for e-bikes because they don’t want to give up their European biking holidays.

“120 years after they were first invented, e-bikes are becoming the new norm in active cycling holidays.”

A 2016 report from Navigant Research, a leading technology market research company, has predicted that eventually e-bike sales will account for one in three bikes sold in Europe (a figure already achieved in The Netherlands). The report has forecasted that globally e-bike sales will increase by 54.7% over the next nine years. In Germany alone, more than 500,000 e-bikes were sold in 2016.

Some of UTracks cycling itineraries offering e-bikes include:1. Prague to Dresden Cycle (self-guided)2. Rhine Valley Bike & Boat (self-guided)3. Cologne to Mainz by Bike & Boat (self-guided)4. Mainz to Strasbourg by Bike & Boat (self-guided)5. Berlin Wall Trail Cycle (self-guided)6. Berlin to Copenhagen by bike (self-guided)7. Berlin Bike & Barge (self-guided)

Parking, particularly at SYD, which earned $97 million from car parking operations with an operating profit margin of 71.9% of revenues, remains a huge source of income for the country’s largest hubs – and a huge area of contention for visitors. Mr Sims suggests booking online or seeking out nearby independent car park operators to save money.



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Even the planes stopped for the Royal WeddingEven the planes stopped for Britain’s Royal Wedding at the weekend, writes Peter Needham from London. The skies were cleared of air traffic for 22 minutes over Windsor Castle, which is quite a big deal as the castle is eight kilometres from London Heathrow Airport and on the flight-path.

Airlines flew over the castle before and after the wedding, but not during the special 22 minutes, when Prince Harry wed Meghan Markle.

The weather was perfect for the big event, capping a week of superb spring warmth in the British capital.

As well as the Royal Wedding, Britons were treated to the FA Cup football final at Wembley on Saturday, Chelsea vs Manchester United. I won’t give away the result but it’s easy enough to find out.

The Royal Wedding theme was picked up by numerous businesses, big and small. A sushi chain advertised a “When Harry met Meghan” bento lunch box for GBP 4.99 (see above).

At London Euston railway station, thronged by Chelsea and Man U supporters, the information booth was decorated with cut-out faces of members of the royal family and Meghan Markle (as below).

Airlines got into the act. Air New Zealand offered complimentary lounge access to travellers who had married on the 19th of May.

Heathrow Airport reported “an increase in international visitors who wish to experience a uniquely joyful British event”. British Airways in Canada put on a special Harry and Meghan-themed flight.

The wedding is estimated to have benefitted Britain to the tune of GBP 500 million (about AUD 885 million), as 100,000 people flocked to the environs of St George’s Chapel in Windsor to be near the couple as they tied the the knot. A TV audience of about 1 billion watched from around the world.

Online travel booking platform Agoda reported a 40% increase on accommodation bookings in Windsor, as well as neighbouring Slough and Greater London. Nine out of the 15 top international markets and most of overall bookings (43%) come from the Asia-Pacific region, Agoda reported, with Australia ranking fourth in the world.



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Australia welcomed a record 9.02 million international visitors in the year ending March 2018, an increase of 7.7% over the past 12 months – and the government is clearly delighted.

The new record, shown in newly released figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), comes after international visitors spent a record AUD 41 billion in Australia last year.

As Australia’s Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo commented: “The world is in love with our beautiful country and all it has to offer. The spectacular scenery, unique wildlife, and world-leading food and wine are attracting people to our shores like never before. Australia is welcoming record numbers of international tourists who are staying longer and spending more.”

China is leading the record-breaking surge, recently overtaking New Zealand to become Australia’s largest source of international tourists. One in six international visitors to Australia hails from China, and Chinese visitors generate more than a quarter of total international visitor spend.

Ciobo credits Australia’s landmark “open capacity” aviation arrangement with China, which he points out was secured

by the Turnbull Coalition Government, and the recent China-Australia Year of Tourism.

Australia is also enjoying strong growth from the US. A record 9.2% increase in US visitors during the past 12 months comes on the heels of Tourism Australia’s recent Dundee campaign, aimed at further growing the lucrative North American market.

“Through record funding to Tourism Australia and a whole-of-government approach to tourism, the Australian tourism industry is growing three times faster under the Coalition than it did under Labor,” Ciobo says.

“This is creating new jobs and driving economic growth. In fact, five times as many tourism jobs have been created by the Coalition Government than under the previous Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Labor Government.”

“Growing tourism is part of the Turnbull Coalition Government’s plan for a stronger economy. We are working to attract investment in tourism infrastructure, streamline visitor processing and improve aviation access, with a focus on getting tourists out into regional Australia.

“Last week’s Budget reaffirms our support to boosting this super-growth sector with continued record funding for Tourism Australia.”

Government basks in glow as tourism beats 9 million

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The Zeppelin Times 4CRB Travel Show...after the wedding, but not during the special 22 minutes, when Prince Harry wed Meghan Markle. The weather was perfect for the big event, capping