The Coach Tourism Association has given its reaction to the recent tourism 90-minute debate in the House of Commons in which the coach tour sector was mentioned 42 times. Chair John Wales said: “The strong support expressed in the House of Commons debate was heartening, with evidence that many MPs understand the plight of the coach sector. Coaches are a critical part of the tourism industry. However coach tour operators, who are predominantly family-run businesses, have been left high and dry for the past six months and most of them missed out on government support because of the failure to recognise them as part of the leisure and travel sector.
“We would urge the Government to consider extending a furlough scheme to tourism businesses which would be perfectly viable if able to operate without the current restrictions. Coach tour operators deliver huge amounts of tourists and leisure spending to regions across the UK and need continuing support to get through a challenging winter.
“CTA is also supporting recent proposals from the Confederation of Passenger Transport for the Government to ensure that operators are given support by extending finance holidays for the next 12 months to avoid the potential repossession of family homes of business owners.”
