When was the last time you rode your bicycle? Do you think bicycles are only for small children? Well then you are wrong. Unpack your cycle, clean it, polish it and fix all its spare parts because one of Thailand’s biggest biking tours is here. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and NCC Exhibition Organisers (NEO) are putting together a great event called ‘the Bangkok Bike 2013’. The bike tour will be conducted from 2-5 May 2013 at Hall 4, Impact Muang Thong Thani.

This tour is a hope to successfully popularise bicycle riding for recreational as well as regular use and also encourage local and foreign visitors. Organisers are expecting a participation of around to 170,000 people over the four-day period. The Thailand Cycling for Health Association says that about 260,000 local people and expatriate residents of Thailand already are in a practise of riding bicycles for recreational travel and tours.

According to Mrs. Vilaiwan Twichasri Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, “We are more than happy to jointly organise Bangkok Bike 2013 to tap the growing global popularity of travel by bicycle. Bangkok Bike 2013 is one way to stimulate the market by providing a one-stop-shop for interested consumers and businesses to get all the information they want, as well as exchange ideas on how to further grow the market.”

The participants will be provided with a 500-square-metre area that will accommodate them under the theme of “Let’s Go Green.” Different kinds of tours are popular amongst different interest groups, from day-trips and two-day tours to one-week tours.

Mrs Vilaiwan Twichasri also said “Travelling by bike fits in well with our ‘Seven Greens concept’ which we launched a few years ago as part of our commitment to environmental sustainability. It also fits in well with the national focus on “Creative Tourism.” Such events will help in the growth of tourism dependent industries and the income generated through the event will benefit the local business.

TAT has supported cycling tours in the past as well but this time it’s planned on a large scale and with better facilitation. They have also published a guide book for bike travel to keep the visitors and participants better informed.

Journey To The Jungle team is super excited about “Bangkok Bike 2013” and we wish TAT and NCC Exhibition Organisers (NEO) on this thoughtful initiative. We also hope all you nature lovers would participate and make it a great success. So keep riding.