Kerala’s rent-a-bike sector hopes to ride high on solo-traveller trend

The post-pandemic trend of travelling solo as free-independent travellers (FITs) or in small teams of individuals to locales tucked properly away from city areas is predicted to give fillip to the rent-a-bike/bicycle enterprise.

The mode of journey will guarantee bodily distancing whereas offering a possibility for FITs and vacationers in small teams to relish every second of their journey with a spirit of journey. There has historically been demand for rent-a-bike/bicycle schemes, with day by day rents within the vary of ₹400 to ₹1,000 for something from scooters to an array of strange or off-road motorbikes.

That many common bicycle fashions had been briefly provide due to demand from youth and others who received fed up of being confined to their houses in the course of the pandemic is in itself an indication that persons are biding their time to take a look at vacationer locales in neighbouring districts. It was in sync with experiential tourism that received common in the course of the previous decade, mentioned a senior tourism official.

Firms from throughout Kerala that provided pre-defined or tailored journey packages for FITs and small teams of vacationers are pinning their hopes on home vacationers travelling within the coming months, adopted by international vacationers.

One of them has give you chauffeur-driven bike excursions, during which a tour information will double up as a chauffeur for solo vacationers to take a look at little-explored locales. “This service is common in places like Goa and Manali and encourages visitors who are not keen on travel by car or bus. They are also very cost effective,” mentioned Jorphey Gabriel of Kochi-based Glenn Tours. “In Kerala, there is difficulty in getting permit for such tours from Kerala Motor Vehicles Department, even as conventional rent-a-bike firms abound. We hope to arrange a 60-day pan-India motorbike tour, once tourists begin coming to Kerala,” he mentioned.

There are companies like Kerala Bike Tours that function guided two-wheeler excursions. “Most of our customers were foreign tourists. Our business model is based on organising guided tours that last a week or two weeks. We will arrange a guide to help the guests in groups of less than 10 two-wheelers discover destinations. A four-wheeler back-up vehicle that will accompany them will have a mechanic and a driver. Discerning guests, in their eagerness to leave minimum carbon footprint, used to come seeking electric two-wheelers during the past few years,” mentioned Daniel Benster of the agency, which rented out 15 automobiles, principally from the Enfield steady.

Of late, the demand is for single-day excursions, together with for off-roading. Tourists, particularly international nationals, contemplate motorbiking in India an thrilling proposition. However, acquiring licence from the MVD was usually difficult and the agency’s licence software was pending, added Mr. Benster.

Deputy Transport Commissioner Shaji Madhavan mentioned rent-a-bike companies should apply for licence from the Transport Commissioner’s workplace, following which an inspection can be carried out to guarantee that there have been minimal variety of automobiles, fitted with GPS, and that the agency had pc and web connection. Based on that, the State Transport Authority would advocate the issuance of licence. The chance of licence being given to chauffeur-driven bikes had to be studied, he mentioned.