Motorcycle tourism: renewed geographies of a marginal tourism practice

Abstract

Motorcycle tourism is often considered a marginal practice with special habits where taking the road, riding styles and camaraderie play essential roles. These rallies are a good example of the unusual and marginal nature of this tourism. Moreover, motorbike tourism has for a long time been ignored or rejected by regions and tourism professionals who had a negative image of motorcycles and motorcyclists. However, bikers have changed. They are on average older than in the past, well integrated within civil society and often have good incomes. They are therefore high potential tourists who authorities should attract by offering products and services tailored to their needs and specialties. These services, driven by the community, professionals or associations, especially in the form of dedicated routes or accommodation identified or labeled for bikers. Those new customers have also caused a proliferation of specialized tour operators. From simple regional trips to the world tours, motorcycle travels sold by tour operators usually include adventure, sports or are clearly upscale. If many destinations conform to a classic world tourism map, others are more original, more marginal, and are part of a (at least partially) renewed geography.