Poole has become the latest town to be awarded the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s Coach Friendly status.
The accolade recognises the Dorset town’s commitment to ensuring coach groups have access to great facilities, information and outstanding products.
John Burch, SW Regional Manager for the Confederation of Passenger Transport, says: “CPT is delighted to add Poole to those locations that have achieved Coach Friendly status.
“The Coach Friendly scheme looks at signage, parking, set-down/pick-up locations, customer facilities and customer and operator incentive schemes among other things. The Tourism Partnership has used its initiative to overcome several issues and has been judged to have achieved the appropriate standard. The status mark will now allow the town to attract more coaches and their customers to take advantage of the facilities on offer.”
Facilities include centrally-located coach drop-off points, dedicated free coach parking and itineraries for short stops or day-long stays. A meet-and-greet service by the Tourist Information Centre team or Town Ambassadors can also be arranged in advance.
Adam Keen, General Manager for Morebus, Excelsior, Damory and National Express – and Chairman of Poole BID – adds: “Poole BID is working extremely hard to ensure that our town is seen as welcoming for coach groups by developing essential facilities such as free parking and a new toilet drop.
“By understanding the needs of coach drivers and making visits easy and comfortable, it demonstrates that we take the value of their business seriously, and hopefully this will mean that they will return with more visitors in the future.”
