The Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) has announced that Stephen Smith, Operations Director, has been elected Chairman of the European Alliance for Coach Tourism (EACT) for 2015/16.
EACT has members in the UK, Germany, Sweden, France, Italy, Hungary, Belgium, Ireland and Croatia and aims to improve the image of coach tourism throughout the EU, while seeking to remove restrictions which impede the free movement of tourism by coach in Europe.
Stephen Smith said: “I am delighted to have been elected as Chairman of EACT for 2015/16 and look forward to working with members as we try to encourage European politicians, the economic and green values of the coach to the tourism market in each country.
“Our collective challenge is to seek to reduce and remove VAT on coach tourism throughout the EU, enable our greener less polluting coaches continued access to our cities as politicians grapple with the European air quality targets for 2020 and inform them that coaches are not the same as trucks and different drivers hours and rest time rules are required for coach travel to enable its tourism market to grow and prosper.”
Simon Posner, CPT’s Chief Executive, added: “This is a very well-deserved appointment and EACT will benefit hugely from Stephen’s knowledge and experience in this important field.
“Together with Steven Salmon’s Presidency of the IRU’s Social Affairs Commission, Stephen’s appointment gives CPT a prominent voice in Europe and means our members are represented at the very highest level.”
