BUFFALO City Metro is expecting at least 60000 bikers and their families will flock to the city in less than a month for Africa Bike Week.
‘We have
to appeal to the city
and its people to
embrace the event
and all its side-shows
and
entertainment’
BCM spokesperson Sibusiso Cindi said they were more than excited to be hosting the event this year, because it will bring in much-needed revenue and people from disadvantaged areas would also be exposed to motorcycles.
“It will also expose the metro as one of the tourism places in the country. We are very excited. B&Bs, restaurants and shopping malls will also benefit from this event.
“They have also adopted the Mayoral Library Legacy Project, where the public can get involved by donating books they no longer need or want, [as their project they support]. Then BCM will take the books to areas where they are needed. The vision was to improve literacy and grow the passion for reading,” Cindi said.
Africa Bike Week is an annual event presented by Harley-Davidson® Africa.
All motorcycle enthusiasts, riders, their families and friends from across South Africa – and across the world – are expected to attend the biggest free biker event on the continent.
Border-Kei Chamber of Business executive director, Les Holbrook said: “Awesome and by far the biggest event ever held in the city.
“Many will be using budget accommodation, including camping. It [camping out and roughing it] goes with the theme and spirit [of the event], so the opportunities are not as huge for the hospitality sector. “However people of all walks of life will be attending,” he said.
Holbrook said bikers participate by booking well in advance.
“When you consider the average cost of a bike itself would be over R150000 with some three times that.
“We can be sure the participants will have budgeted – and have money to spend. For many, this is the highlight of the year and the flagship bike event. Given that this is the first year of a likely three years [that the event will be hosted here] – we have to appeal to the city and its people to embrace the event and all its side shows and entertainment.
“We must put out our welcome mat and make visitors feel, ‘I’ll be back,’ as opposed to our often response by either charging too much or providing bad service. Frankly, it’s up to us to make it work [for future investment].”
