1. Importance of the support of coach tourism in EU Member States Stephen Smith Chairman European Alliance for Coach Tourism

2. Jó napot Hölgyeim és Uraim!

3. EACT Formed in 2012 Members from Trade Associations in UK, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Ireland and Hungary Promotion of specific interests of coach tourism operators Highlight Economic Benefits of coach tourism passengers bring to towns, cities and tourist locations Lobby National Governments, MEP’s and EU Decision Makers

4. Article 195 Enables actions to create a favourable environment for Tourism across the EU Re-enforced in 2010 with the new political framework for tourism in Europe The world’s No 1 tourist destination

5. 4 Tourism Pillars Stimulate competitiveness in the European Tourism sector Promote the development of sustainable, responsible and high quality tourism Consolidate the image and profile of Europe as home to sustainable and high quality destinations Maximise the potential of EU policies and financial instruments

6. How can this be achieved?

7. ....by increasing tourism by Coach

8. Economic benefits of the coach - 1 Promote local businesses and highlight that the coach helps to sustain local employment in: Hotels Restaurants Cafes Theatres Entertainment Venues Tourist Attractions Direct employment for Drivers, Guides, Support Staff

9. Economic benefits of the coach - 2 Coach tourism passengers Senior citizens School children Corporate travellers Sports teams Inbound European tourists Internal and external market by Member State

10. Economic Benefits of the Coach - 3 In UK in 2014, 5 million overnight coach holiday trips in the UK and abroad the expenditure was £1.6 billion In Germany in 2014, 5.4 million domestic coach holidays worth €3.8 billion to the German Economy UK passengers daily spend on food, drink and souvenirs average of £40 Factoring that figure to the UK and German passengers equates to over €12.5 billion

11. Environmental credentials Promotion to towns and cities that the coach is part of the solution (not the problem!) to improving air quality 1 coach = 30 cars Investment in Euro 5 & 6 Emission levels NOx & CO2 Use of alternative fuels - GTL – can reduce NOx and CO2 emissions by 80 -90% depending upon Euro engine type

12. Coach Promotion City Partnerships to develop Tourist Coach Action Plans City Authorities, Transport Bodies, Tourist Attractions, Coach Trade Associations and Operators

13. ‘Coach Friendly’ Status Encourage towns, cities, villages and tourist attractions to become coach friendly Award locations which meet the criteria

14. Coach Promotion - 2 Production of benefits of the coach by coach operator trade associations outlining the benefits which can be used to inform decision makers Remember many have never travelled by or considered coach travel Promote the benefits to potential customers of day trips by coach

15. The future Will be what European coach operators want it to be? Is the European coach industry ready to accept the challenge? Is the European coach industry ready and prepared to promote itself to potential customers and decision makers?

16. The future Unless the European Coach Industry takes the initiative with Member States and the Commission then we will continue to be seen as part of an environmental problem and not the solution to developing European tourism further.

17. Koszonom