The UK coach tourism industry is experiencing a robust recovery with operators reporting strong sales across domestic and European markets according to the latest market sentiment survey by the Coach Tourism Association (CTA).
Qualitative feedback gathered from operators and wholesalers signals a positive start to 2025 and growing momentum in continental tours and premium coach products.
That shift is attributed to rising consumer confidence and demand for higher-spec experiences.
Several companies report substantial increases in forward bookings compared to 2024, consolidating a pattern of steady year-on-year growth.
“2025 has started strongly for us and we expect deposited sales for travel this year to be up by around 30% by the end of April compared with the same point in 2024,” says Sean Taggart of Leisuretime by Toureasy. “This follows a similar year-on-year increase in 2024 compared to 2023 and consolidates a trend of rapid and consistent sales growth.”
Acklams Coaches saw a 20% year-on-year rise in UK door-to-door holidays at the start of 2025 while Albatross Travel reports stronger Q1 sales and average loadings. Motts Leisure Day Trips are also up 15% year-to-date.
The European market, which rebounded in 2024, continues to gather pace. “We invested significantly in an increased programme to Europe in 2025 and this is delivering a good proportion of our year-on-year sales growth. Austria and Italy are proving particularly popular,” says Mr Taggart.
Louise Fitzpatrick, Head of Sales, Albatross Travel (pictured above) adds: “A key driver of this growth is the ongoing resurgence in continental tours, which have seen a 7% year on year increase, supported by increased load factors. This reflects growing consumer confidence, even in the face of operational challenges at the ports.”
Acklams also cites a 12% rise in European travel, despite those cross-border uncertainties.
Demand for premium products is robust; Caroline Thorpe, Marketing Manager at Leger Shearings, says Luxuria (Leger Holiday’s business-class equivalent brand) demand is at its highest ever, with sales “up 19% year-on-year, showing customers’ growing desire for exclusive business-class comfort on the road”.
Ms Fitzpatrick forecasts a 4% increase in full-year travelled sales (trips completed) for 2025. Meanwhile, Skills Holidays reports August bookings up 30% year-on-year.
Crusader Holidays’ General Manager Phil Vockins confirms a strong pipeline: “Looking ahead to the end of the year, business is doing well, with early bookings for 2026 well up again this year,” he says. “It is the third year in a row that early bookings have been up and we are currently 40% up on this time last year.”
Leger Shearings notes its 2026 sales are currently 20% ahead of where 2025 departures were at this point last year.
Late bookings remain a prevalent customer behaviour. “Overall, we have seen an increasingly late booking trend for all destinations, so our advance booking situation is even more encouraging given how much there is still to play for in 2025,” says Mr Taggart.
Neil Leavesley, Head of Holidays at Skills Holidays, agrees: “What is clear is the late booking market is especially strong, therefore we need to ensure we’re able to react to that and we work closely with our suppliers to enable us to capture this section of the market – we’ve seen certain products double in sales within six weeks of departure.”
CTA Chair Robert Shaw (pictured, left) sums up the mood: “The latest reports from our members are extremely positive for the current market, the year ahead, and into 2026. The coach tourism sector is performing strongly, both for UK trips and tours, as well as the resurgence in continental holidays. This not only shows consumer spending confidence, but also reflects attitudes about the quality of the experience that coach tourism can provide.”
