By the time you are reading this, the Lightpool Festival will be in full swing in Blackpool where, on 17 October, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) published some new research that quantifies the economic benefits that coach operators and their passengers deliver to the British economy.
This follows the publication in September of our report on the economic impact of local buses, which I’m pleased to say has gained a fair bit of attention, so hopefully the same will happen for this welcome new work shining light on this vital sector.
The Economic Impact of Coach Services research was commissioned by CPT from independent consultant KPMG. It examines not only the coach industry’s contribution to GB plc but the value coach passengers bring to local economies throughout England, Scotland, and Wales too.
The research also highlights additional benefits of a healthy coach sector. These include better connectivity at an affordable price and advantages for other road users, such as reduced congestion and lower air pollution per person per journey compared to private cars.
Across Britain, coaches facilitate 450 million journeys per annum and coach passengers spend £8.3 billion every year in local economies. This spending includes:
- £5.4 billion from domestic tourists travelling to tourist destinations such as seaside resorts, visitor attractions, national parks and towns and cities across Britain;
- £2.3 billion from domestic passengers travelling to retail and leisure destinations such as outlet shopping villages, Christmas markets, theatres and sporting events;
- £0.6 billion from international tourists travelling by coach during their visit to Britain.
Another striking statistic from this research shows that any location making the effort to welcome just one additional coach per day could boost the local economy by up to £1 million annually. This highlights the significant economic benefits that even a modest increase in coach traffic can bring to local communities.
To reap these benefits, every city, town and tourist destination must plan better for coach, so they offer adequate coach parking and facilities for both passengers and coach drivers alike as part of a sustainable travel and tourism strategy.
Sadly, we know from a survey that CPT completed in 2023 (of 23 local transport authorities) that very few local transport plans pay much attention to coach.
Not Blackpool, however, where CPT launched this research and renewed the city’s CPT Coach Friendly status — an award that recognises the efforts made by the council and its partners to develop a more coherent approach to coach (through the provision of better signage, drop off/pick up locations, coach parking, and facilities).
This valuable research will now be used to encourage many more local authorities to plan better for coach. I also hope it will be widely discussed by folk attending Euro Bus Expo at the NEC Birmingham on 12-14 November 2024.
To reap these benefits, every city, town and tourist destination must plan better for coach
In another important moment during our 50th anniversary year, CPT will be holding its inaugural CPT Operator Forum — a one-day conference — in the theatre at the heart of this year’s expo, on the second day of the show.
This event will address a range of core industry issues, pose some challenging questions and provide critical information but, crucially, all from a practical operator perspective. At the same time, it has been designed to offer a genuine forum where operators can share knowledge and discuss solutions. We will explore themes including accessibility, recruitment, and the future landscape while offering a space to connect with other coach and bus operators, industry suppliers and key decision makers and influencers.
In case you have yet to book, to attend the CPT Operator Forum please register to attend Euro Bus Expo for free now.
