By John Schalch  July 29 2009

It’s great to see the enthusiasm of Ashburton District Tourism which is keen to tap into the current excitement about funding for a national cycleway.

A meeting to be held in Methven tonight should give some insight into the support for such a project.

 But anyone who expects a quick fix, or indeed an instant return on investment, will be sorely disappointed.

 On the positive side is the strong support of cycling in this district, both as a recreational undertaking and as a sport.

 The financial and membership support from these clubs will be vital to seeding such a proposal, a request for support for which will then be taken to the Government.

 The ADT’s consideration to align its plan with the Government’s proposed $50 million national cycleway project is shrewd and aims to highlight local interest and a long-term strategy.

 Other regions are chasing their slice of the same funding, and share the collective opinion that a significant marketing budget is essential for regional tourism organisations such as ADT to be able to make the most of the potential financial returns.

 There also seems agreement that there is a latent and huge demand from New Zealanders, Japanese and Australians wanting more cycle trails.

 But, patience will be a virtue for the project’s supporters.

 It is well documented the Otago Rail Trail took nearly a decade to reach the level of popularity it now enjoys.

 For the ADT and other regional tourism organisations which choose to follow in its wake, careful planning, marketing, solid investment and strong local community support have been identified as key elements to success.