October 17 2024
- Just one additional coach every day can deliver £1 million of economic value annually to a destination
- The coach industry in Britain supports 81,000 jobs, generating £6.4 billion of economic value through employment
- Coaches provide 450 million journeys a year in Britain – equivalent to 40% of all journeys taken by rail
The coach sector delivers vital economic benefits to towns, cities and tourist destinations across Britain according to independent research commissioned by the Confederation of Passenger Transport.
The Economic Impact of Coach Services research by KPMG sets out to quantify the financial benefits of coach services to the British economy - including direct impacts for passengers and operators, and additional benefits that arise for supply chains, commerce and communities.
Launching the research in Blackpool just one day before the start of two major tourist events - the Lightpool and Sequence Dance Festivals - CPT’s CEO Graham Vidler said,
“This new research shows that towns or destinations that can welcome one extra coach every day could bring up to £1 million a year into their local economy.
“To reap these benefits every city, town and tourist destination must plan for coach, so they offer adequate coach parking and good facilities for both passengers and coach drivers as part of their sustainable travel and tourism strategy”.
The research reveals that across Britain coaches facilitate 450 million journeys each year and coach passengers spend £8.3 billion every year in local economies.
- Around £ 2.3 billion comes from passenger spending on leisure and shopping trips.
- Day-trippers using coaches spend £3.5 billion per year.
- Domestic coach passengers who stay overnight at their destination add £1.9 billion to the economy annually.
- International tourists travelling by coach spend over £600m
Furthermore, the coach industry is a substantial employer, with high concentrations of jobs in areas such as Cornwall, the Scottish Highlands and mid-Wales which are particularly reliant on coach connections to reach major hubs.
Some 54,000 people are employed directly in the industry – including drivers, mechanics, operations managers and customer service representatives. The industry supports a further 27,000 jobs in its supply chain. Collectively, these jobs contribute £6.4 billion to the economy.
The research was launched in Blackpool on the same day the city was re-awarded its CPT Coach Friendly status. This award recognises the efforts made by Blackpool Council to create the right conditions for coaches to operate and to encourage more coach tourism.
The coach sector’s contribution is particularly pronounced in parts of the country with rural populations, and in parts of the country with less extensive rail services. For example, the coach sector’s employment and supply chain is worth over £425 million in Wales and £640 million in Scotland.
ENDS
Notes for editors
The Economic Impact of Coach Services research was commissioned by CPT to be completed by independent consultants KPMG UK between May and September 2024.
In addition to an economic analysis built from multiple sources of publicly available data, an engagement phase of research was undertaken with a range of key stakeholders across England, Wales, and Scotland. The resulting analysis covers Great Britain (occasionally UK) as a whole, with nation breakdowns for England, Scotland, and Wales.
Welcoming one coach carrying 49 passengers every day for a year could bring as much as £ 1 million into its local economy.
Region |
Coach industry (wages, taxes, investment in supply chains) economic impact £ |
Better connections Increased connectivity, access to low cost travel, impact on other road users £
|
Passengers at their destination (shopping, leisure and tourism spend) £ |
East Midlands region |
215m |
195m |
570m |
East Midlands CA |
65m |
80m |
240m |
London |
1,210m |
345m |
1,525m |
North East region |
345m |
110m |
265m |
North East CA |
295m |
80m |
215m |
Tees Valley CA |
55m |
30m |
45m |
North West region |
920m |
300m |
895m |
Liverpool City region |
200m |
60m |
155m |
Greater Manchester |
365m |
115m |
280m |
South East |
740m |
370m |
1,170m |
South West region |
460m |
230m |
795m |
West of England CA |
65m |
40m |
220m |
West Midlands region |
430m |
235m |
660m |
West Midlands CA |
165m |
115m |
265m |
Yorkshire and the Humber region |
400m |
225m |
620m |
York and North Yorkshire CA |
75m |
35m |
145m |
West Yorkshire CA |
120m |
95m |
210m |
South Yorkshire CA |
140m |
55m |
110m |
Scotland |
635m |
185m |
675m |
Wales |
425m |
105m |
395m |
A survey of 23 Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) Local Transport Plans (LTPs) conducted in 2023 by CPT revealed that very few of them considered coaches beyond basic references: e.g. typically, how they facilitate long distance coach services. CPT commissioned this research to establish a source of economic data that demonstrates the value that coach passengers contribute towards local economies throughout England, Scotland & Wales. This research will be used to encourage LTAs to address provision of facilities and better access for coach services as a routine part of their transport planning, especially (though not only) in areas where there is already proven evidence of significant tourism activity.
CPT’s Coach Friendly scheme is a national award open to any city, town, or tourist destination that can demonstrate a significant tourism offer and is keen to attract more visitors through the provision of better signage, coach parking, drop/pick up locations, and facilities for coaches and their passengers.
Gaining CPT's Coach Friendly' accreditation is a valuable way for any local area - and its businesses such as major tourist destinations - to demonstrate a commitment to increase their earning potential, reduce congestion and improve air quality whilst continuing to develop tourism. Coach services (scheduled and tours):
- Are highly accessible and offer a more sustainable alternative to personal car journeys (one coach carrying 50 people can prevent at least 20 individual car trips, and carbon emissions from one modern coach come in six times lower per passenger than private car travel).
- Can deliver high-spend visitors in a way which minimises congestion and reduces exhaust emissions.
- Offer many who might otherwise struggle to enjoy days out or short breaks a door–to-door form of affordable travel.
- Provide home-to-school transport in many parts of the UK.
- Provide affordable and reliable intercity coach travel for many thousands of passengers to reach diverse destinations - including a host of places not served by the rail network or other transport modes.
- Remain one of the least appreciated forms of public transport in the UK today.
Tourism is vital to Blackpool’s economy. The city attracts over 20 million visitors annually, generating £1.7 billion in expenditure and provides more than 22,000 jobs in the area. Coach travel is essential in providing tourists access to Blackpool, and it is estimated that at least 90 coaches . can enter Blackpool on a typical day, capable of delivering 4,500 tourists spending £200,000 on average per day in the local economyCPT Coach Friendly accreditation is expected to further boost coach visitor numbers and tourism in the city. Without the availability of coach travel it is likely that many of these journeys – particularly the tourist trips – and therefore the associated spend in Blackpool’s local economy would not happen.
Lightpool Festival runs from Friday 18 October to Saturday 26 October, featuring light installations, performances, and family activities. It is heavily reliant on coach-based tourism.
Blackpool Sequence Dance Festival runs from 19 to 21 October Many spectators and participants use coach travel to attend this prestigious annual dance competition.