Coach holidays are back!

The world’s first Covid vaccine recipient, Margaret Keenan, is one of the first passengers to enjoy setting off on a coach holiday with the lifting of restrictions on 17 May.

Margaret Keenan, with her daughter Sue and son-in-law David, joined other passengers for family-owned firm Harry Shaw’s first coach holiday to set off from its Coventry base today (17 May).

Margaret said: “We are looking forward to a few days by the sea – thanks to everyone, including our wonderful NHS staff and all at Harry Shaw who have made it possible”.

Robert Shaw, a director of the family-owned coach holiday operator, is also chair of the industry trade body Coach Tourism Association, and was delighted to welcome Margaret and her family aboard the first trip to set off today.

“It is so fitting that Margaret Keenan is one of our first passengers back on board as coach holidays re-start today,” said Robert Shaw. “The vaccine is the route out of the pandemic and Margaret was the first to roll up her sleeve to be vaccinated. We are thrilled to be able to take Margaret and her family away for a very well-deserved break.

“All of us here at Harry Shaw, just like all my colleagues right across the coach industry, are delighted to be able to get back to what we do best; helping people enjoy a great, relaxing holiday so they can create new memories of good times to cherish.”

With the lifting of restrictions on staying overnight and the further opening up of the tourism and hospitality sectors, the 17 May signifies the re-start for coach holidays and excursions. Operators all over the UK are running trips to take passengers to a wide range of attractions and destinations. All operators have introduced new safety procedures to ensure Covid-Safe travel including enhanced cleaning regimes and social distancing. Passengers must wear a mask while on board the coach.

To coincide with the re-starting of coach holidays, the Coach Tourism Association has launched a new website – welovecoaches.com – which offers a simple way for customers to find a coach holiday operator near where they live that can whisk them away on their next long-awaited trip.

Photo caption:

Robert Shaw, director, Harry Shaw, welcomes the world’s first Covid vaccine recipient Margaret Keenan and her family for one of the first coach holidays to return following the easing of restrictions.

A brief video with Margaret Keenan and Robert Shaw is below: