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Nonprofit reports large visitor spending after Onancock hosted Between‑the‑Waters bike tour
Summary
Donna Bowes of CBs told council the Between‑the‑Waters bike tour (hosted in Onancock) sold out with about 1,200 registrants; survey respondents estimated total spending of "$5,511,000" and organizers characterized the weekend as generating over $500,000 for local businesses.
Donna Bowes, executive director of Citizens for a Better Reason Shore (CBs), thanked the council, staff and local businesses for hosting CBs’s 31st Between‑the‑Waters bike tour in October and described the weekender’s local economic boost. Bowes said the tour was a sellout (about 1,200 registrants) and that 245 surveys informed the organizers’ spending estimates; the report in the council packet listed estimated total spending as "$5,511,000," which Bowes characterized to the council as 'over $500,000 in a long weekend.'
Bowes also shared participation and satisfaction metrics: 89% of riders came from off the shore, 72% stayed one or more nights, 91% said they were very likely to participate again, and 64% said their future return visit to the Eastern Shore would include Onancock. She credited local events, restaurants and the Main Street volunteers for creating a positive visitor experience and noted that the tour’s marketing and rider T‑shirts continue to promote the host town.
