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.