CPT is calling on the Government to provide a support package worth £65million each month for the coach tourism industry. CPT has warned that the industry is in a fight for its future because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the spring and summer being the peak period only 2 per cent of coaches that are normally involved in a range of tourist trips are currently being used and bookings are not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until summer 2021.

Despite the mothballing of coaches and the majority of staff on furlough, operators are still facing costs on average of £1,900 per day. These costs have been compounded by unprecedented cancellations and the failure of government to classify coach tourism as a leisure business making operators ineligible for a Covid-19 business rates holiday and grant.

CPT Chief Executive Graham Vidler says: “Coach tourism is in a fight for its future with the complete collapse of bookings for the summer period and the expected quieter winter period to come.

“The industry directly employs 42,000 people with many more jobs dependent on the sector to get people to attractions and destinations. Without support these jobs are under threat as operators have to lay off staff and attractions see reduced footfall as customers, many of whom rely on coach to travel, face fewer choices and difficulties in reaching destinations.

“The collapse of coach tourism will mean a significant increase in the carbon footprint of tourism as people revert to carbon heavy car journeys to visit attractions and destinations.”

The three-point support package set out by CPT includes:

1. 1. A cash injection into the industry worth £65million a month to help the industry cover its costs for the rest of 2020. The rate of payments would taper off in line with an expected increase in future bookings.
2. 2. A flexible job retention scheme to allow staff to remain on furlough until business levels return to normal.
3. 3. Confirmation that coach tour operators are to be treated as leisure businesses for the purposes of Covid-19 support.

The support package is calculated on a per coach basis with operators receiving a per coach payment at the below rates and assumes the furlough scheme is in place throughout 2020.

www.cpt-uk.org