CTA has been very active with media interviews and online events since the beginning of 2021. CTA chair Robert Shaw has presented at online events run by CPT and VisitEngland and conducted a round of media interviews including a BBC local radio marathon last week. CPT’s Bus and Coach Conference 2021 included a key session [...]
Scottish tourism businesses have another opportunity to link up with global tour operators and travel agents ‘virtually’. Recognising the need for Scotland’s tourism businesses to maintain contact throughout Covid-time with travel intermediaries around the globe, VisitScotland has organised the Scotland Reconnect 2021 event, which will take place 27-29 April, following its successful inaugural digital event [...]
CTA member Long Mynd Travel is working to support the local community in Shropshire where it is based by kindly offering a free of charge service for the county’s residents over 70 and in the vulnerable category, with transport to and from vaccination centres. Long Mynd is offering free travel to vaccine centres in Shropshire [...]
One operator reporting that customers are booking holidays for later in the year in large numbers after receiving their vaccinations is CTA member Bakers Dolphin. The company believes that confidence is returning and the tourism market will bounce back after Easter with online and telephone bookings rocketing in the past week. Amanda Harrington, sales and [...]
The South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA), is a new industry-led management and marketing organisation for the South of Scotland – including Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. CTA member MBTAG, the Midlothian and Borders Tourism Action Group, will merge into the SSDA and continue its work from the last three years across the [...]
Coach groups can be transported to a secret side of London with a virtual tour of a disused Tube station organised by the Hidden London team at London Transport Museum. Virtual guests can experience a subterranean world of shadowy tunnels and forgotten spaces of London Underground in groups of a minimum of 25 people and [...]
The organiser of British Tourism & Travel Show (BTTS) has announced this year’s event will move from March to September. The show will be deferred to the new dates of 22-23 September 2021 at the NEC Birmingham, following the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The British Coach Tourism Awards will also move to take [...]
Hospitality Line says that for 29 years, its clients have been able to book with no commitment from a selection of more than 10,000 venues and it has confirmed that it will be continuing to provide this level of operational freedom wherever possible throughout 2021 and beyond. There are a host of attractions looking forward to opening [...]
CTA member Exbury Gardens is highlighting new woodland wonders, family nature trails and dazzling spring colour in 2021. A new River Walk will allow visitors to explore previously-hidden woodland within the 200-acre New Forest garden, with glimpses of the Beaulieu River estuary. Interpretation boards will explain how to spot some of the iconic native trees. Stretching nearly [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 18/01/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 18 January 2021 19 January 2021 18 January 2021 ... Tourism Alliance updates: Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum: 5 January onwards The payment period is initially extended to 42 days from [...]
Update: Many thanks to those who attended the Burns Night zoom. It was a very informative and valuable session with great contributions from Lauren Hogg, VisitScotland; Andrew MacNair, CalMac Ferries; and Mary Jane Brett, Diageo plus a wonderful Address to a Haggis from Visit Arran's Sheila Gilmore. Presentations and extract from zoom video below: Robert [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 04/01/21 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 4 January 2021 5 January 2021 7 January 2021 8 January 2021 4 January 2021 ... CPT update: FREE TRADE DEAL FROM 1 JANUARY 2021 The UK and EU have agreed the [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 21/12/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 21 December 2020 21 December 2020 ... Tourism Alliance update: Northern Ireland Restrictions Following on from the post-Xmas restrictions announced in Wales, Northern Ireland has announced that, Between 20:00 and 06:00 from 26 [...]
The Coach Tourism Association has appointed a new Chair, Robert Shaw, who has now taken over from outgoing Chair John Wales. Following a board meeting on 09-December-20 the CTA has also announced the appointment of two new board members, Emma Russell from Alfa Travel and Lucy Osborne from Leger/Shearings. Robert Shaw was the Association’s previous [...]
Robert Shaw of CTA member Harry Shaw has become the new chair of CTA, succeeding John Wales, who has now stepped down as planned. Robert has been vice chair for the past three years and has served on the board for the past decade. In a message to all CTA members, he says: “As a [...]
Coach tourism will be highlighted as one of the key elements of CPT’s UK Bus & Coach Conference 2021 which takes place on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 January. New CTA chair Robert Shaw will be among the speakers in the session, entitled Coach tourism: changing times for tours, attractions and customers, which will be [...]
Visit England is hosting a special online seminar ‘Coach Travel – building towards recovery’ on 14 January at 11am. The event will feature an overview from Robert Shaw, CTA chair, followed by presentations from John Johnson, Johnsons Coaches; Paul Cartwright A&P Travel; and Lucy Osborne, Leger/Shearings. The seminar aims to highlight the coach travel sector [...]
Following a debate in Parliament on 10 December on the future of the coach industry CPT has written a letter to Rachel Maclean MP, the minister who responded to the debate on behalf of the government, and is inviting operators to sign. The letter, which will be sent before the end of this week, encourages [...]
CTA coach operator and wholesalers buyers are invited to attend Britain & Ireland Marketplace 2021 on 26 Jan 2021. ETOA launch the appointment requests on 6 Jan to encourage attendees to submit requests as early as possible. (A separate invitation and pricing will be available for Supplier members shortly.) Registrations are now open for the BIM [...]
English Heritage is holding admission prices at 2020 levels until April 2022 for travel trade partners, pre-booking FIT and group visits at its 120-plus paid-for historic attractions countrywide, including its most popular tourist sites Stonehenge, Tintagel Castle, Dover Castle and Osborne. The charity has made the decision to hold prices to play its part in [...]
Mersey Ferries’ Manchester Ship Canal Cruises will set sail along a new cruise route in 2021. The new round-trip cruise will sail from Liverpool and Wirral, travel along the Manchester Ship Canal to the historic Latchford Locks and back, giving groups the opportunity to experience a round-trip in the same day. Relax as you travel [...]
The Royal Collection has announced that bookings for 2021 are now open. Groups can book to visit a blockbuster exhibition at The Queen's Gallery in London, featuring paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Titian, or to see watercolour scenes from Queen Victoria's and Prince Albert's life at The Queen's Gallery in Edinburgh. At Windsor Castle, until [...]
Waddesdon is extending its popular Winter Light programme through January for the first time. Brighten January runs from 7th to 31st (4-10pm, closes 8pm Sundays) to bring a little cheer to a dark time of year. Visitors will be able to enjoy the gardens ablaze with light, stroll under the stars beneath illuminated tree canopies and [...]
Following the latest national lockdown in England, CTA member Roadmark Travel took a tour to Dunster with a group from Horsham and the surrounding area of West Sussex to the Yarn Market Hotel of Dunster in Exmoor. Antony Brunt, proprietor of the Yarn Market Hotel, says “We believe it is much safer for us to [...]
In the wake of insurers withdrawing from the travel sector, Wrightsure has reassured the sector that one of its specialist insurers continues to welcome applications for consumer protection insurance. Andrew Day, Wrightsure, says: “Due to the reduction in insurer capacity facing the industry, a number of businesses have been forced to investigate alternative ways of [...]
Visit Kent’s latest Tourism Economic Impact Study, published today, shows that before the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the county’s visitor economy had topped £4.1billion for the first time ever, welcoming a record 66.5 million visitors in 2019. Independent research reveals that £278million was spent on average in the local economy each month in [...]
Greatdays regret to announce the sudden passing away (non-Covid) of Diana Woolf at the young age of 61. Diana had worked for the Beaumont family since leaving school, first with 10 years at Shearings Holidays followed by 30 years at Greatdays. Paul Beaumont, Greatdays, says: “Diana spent her working life managing tour deadlines, rooming lists [...]
LFC Stadium Tours was delighted to open its doors to welcome visitors again. Behind the scenes, it has been working hard to ensure that it provides a safe and enjoyable experience for all staff and visitors to Anfield Stadium. Alongside the additional health and safety measures implemented earlier this year, the stadium tour itself has been [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 14/12/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 14 December 2020 15 December 2020 16 December 2020 17 December 2020 14 December 2020 ... Tourism Alliance update: As you will be aware, the Tourism Alliance has worked with the Cut [...]
Another CTA members’ zoom meeting saw an inspiring discussion about adapting to the current realities, and preparing plans for the recovery. A series of short presentations from members kicked off the meeting with operators Jason Edwards and Kevin Mayne accompanied by Matthew Coulter, Historic Royal Palaces and Mercedes Picard, English Heritage. Jason Edwards spoke about [...]
Visit Wales have updated us on new restrictions in Wales which came into force on 4 December. A list of FAQs can be found here In summary, in relation to travel and visiting, the following applies: Travel into Wales from tier three areas in England, level three and four areas in Scotland and from Northern [...]
Further advice and guidance received this week confirms that coach tours can proceed in Tiers 1 and 2 in England. The Safer Transport Guidance for Operators confirms that the post-lockdown Tiers do not prevent coach tours and that the previous guidance on social distancing and household groups/bubbles continues to operate. The guidance states: “When travelling [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 30/11/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 30 November 2020 3 December 2020 30 November 2020 ... CPT updates: SAFER TRANSPORT GUIDANCE FOR OPERATORS UPDATED The advice document Safer Transport Guidance for Operators was updated ON 26 November by [...]
The prime minister has announced details of how the Government intends to lift national restrictions in England on 2 December, and the return to a tiered system of localised restrictions. There have not yet been any changes published to the existing Safer Transport Guidance. From 2 December: the requirement to stay at home will end, [...]
The Government has updated guidelines which cover attendance at Christmas illumination events in England. Due to likely ongoing restrictions, the government does not wish to see large events taking place that risk lots of people congregating. The new National (No. 4) Regulations enable outdoor recreation following any required social distancing and limits on numbers to [...]
At the first meeting of the reconstituted Tourism Industry Council last week, DCMS provided a short presentation on their thinking regarding the development of a Tourism Recovery Plan. As part of this, DCMS are asking for feedback on the following questions: How do we ensure the UK most benefits from pent-up demand once domestic and [...]
CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS IN SCOTLAND - TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS TO BECOME LAW First Minister Nicola Sturgeon this afternoon announced that the current guidance on travel restrictions in Scotland will become law from Friday 20 November 2020 This means people living in a level three or level four tiered area must not travel outside their own council area [...]
ETOA is hosting a free webinar on Thursday 19 November at 14:00, 'Beyond Brexit: obstacles and opportunity for tourism between EU and UK from 2021'. From 1st January, travel between the EU and the UK will be subject to post-transition rules, and the webinar will cover what are the UK’s destination markets’ concerns, and what [...]
Coach operators are encouraged to participate in a major survey to coordinate data that will help prove the invaluable role that coaches play in the UK, and help to convince government to provide sector-specific support. The survey can be found here. It takes about 30 minutes to complete and operators will need details of vehicle [...]
The plight of the coach industry was laid bare in the House of Commons yesterday (10 November) in a powerful speech by Emma Hardy MP as part of a debate on support for SMEs during Covid 19 - see video of debate below. Hardy, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle, called for [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 09/11/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 9 November 2020 10 November 2020 11 November 2020 12 November 2020 9 November 2020 ... Visit Wales update: Guidance about the coronavirus rules in Wales in place from Monday 9 November [...]
ETOA is hosting Recovery 21 on Wed 9 December from 13:00-16:30. It includes a session led by ETOA’s Tom Jenkins and invited speakers focussed on establishing what opportunities there are for business next year and what the potential for recovery looks like, where demand lies and where it is likely to be directed. It will also [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 02/11/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 2 November 2020 3 November 2020 4 November 2020 6 November 2020 2 November 2020 ... CPT updates: UPDATED SCOTLAND COVID RISK TIER STRUCTURE Guidance has been issued following the announcement of [...]
Tony Johnson of Johnson Bros Tours has passed away at the age of 77 following a battle with cancer. Alongside brothers Harry and Barry, Tony helped establish Johnson Bros - originally known as Dukeries Coaches. Founded in 1954, it started running coaches at the end of the 1950s with a 41-seater Bedford. Over its 66-year [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 26/10/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 26 October 2020 27 October 2020 26 October 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates: DCMS Update on Brexit Here is an excellent update that DCMS have put together that pulls together [...]
Hilton has launched Flexitours, a group tour campaign with new flexible terms and conditions in order to provide additional security to group tour operators. There is a presentation at 11.00 on Thursday 29 October, 11.00 where you can hear all about the Flexitours campaign. To register for the session on 29 October, click this link [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 19/10/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 19 October 2020 21 October 2020 22 October 2020 23 October 2020 19 October 2020 ... CPT updates: LANCASHIRE MOVES TO TIER VERY HIGH ALERT STATUS Lancashire moved to Very [...]
Dick Wood, chairman, Devon Association of Tourist Attractions, remembers Ian Stuart: "Ian was a good friend of mine and a very loyal, supportive member of the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions (DATA) too, and we worked together frequently attending various tourism trade shows for national and international audiences flying the flag for Devon and the [...]
COVID-19 Updates - week commencing 12/10/20 More updates of developments from the government and various links to interpretation and guidance. Go to date: 12 October 2020 13 October 2020 14 October 2020 12 October 2020 ... Tourism Alliance updates Further details have been published on the restrictions related to the three tier Covid [...]
Scotland Reconnect 2020, a virtual B2B workshop, takes place on Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 November. Having missed everyone at this year’s VisitScotland Expo and in these challenging times of Covid-19, the VisitScotland team are working hard to bring you and our Scottish suppliers together under one-virtual roof for Pre-selected 1-2-1 appointments Ad hoc on-the-day [...]
