While many tourism firms are battling COVID-19 restrictions, one of many South Island’s largest cycle tour operators Kiwi Journeys has grown their enterprise by 300 percent during the pandemic.
To develop the enterprise even additional, boss Andrew Schwass and his spouse Sherie have introduced it’s becoming a member of New Zealand’s largest e-bike franchise, Electrify NZ.
“So many of our customers ride our electric bikes, and then they want one for themselves, so taking on the franchise was a natural progression,” Schwass stated.
Kiwi Journeys began in 2012 with a fleet of simply 12 bikes working from a single location at Mapua. They’ve now served 1000’s of rental clients and keep a fleet of 300 bikes with places in Nelson, Mapua, Kaiteriteri and Hokitika on the West Coast.
Bike trails such because the Great Taste Trail and West Coast Wilderness Trail have proved highly regarded for each locals and vacationers, Schwass stated, and utilizing an e-bike means riders can go sooner and additional.
“People want to get outside and explore our country and e-bikes are the perfect way to do that.”
Customs import figures counsel that between 2014 and 2020 New Zealand’s e-bike imports skyrocketed from about 2,000 models a 12 months to 50,000 models.
“People love e-bikes, and it has become obvious that e-bikes are the future of cycling in New Zealand,” Schwass stated.
“People can’t travel but they still want to go somewhere and do things and that has also had a flow on effect for our business.”
Schwass, who was born in Nelson, says the area is likely one of the e-bike hotspots in New Zealand.
“There are multiple parks and trails. People go out and ride the trails then go to one of the local craft breweries, wineries and eateries.”
Electrify NZ has greater than 70 unbiased sellers nationwide.