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Welcome to NAMO

The National Association of Motorcoach Operators (NAMO) is a group of independently owned transportation providers working together to establish and implement a successful association through networking and collaboration for the purpose of setting standards of superior service throughout the motorcoach industry.

NAMO membership brings you closer to building good business relationships with some of the industry's most experienced motorcoach travel and tourism people.

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Every operator member must sign the NAMO Code of Ethics, which says that NAMO members aspire to the highest professional standards in the industry.

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Members are entitled to two telephone consultations, or one in-person meeting with NAMO's General Council Franklin & Prokopik, on a courtesy basis.

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Current and upcoming events, 2024 annual conference, september 8-11, 2024.

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It is the mission of the National Association of Motorcoach Operators (NAMO) to establish and implement solutions that assist our members in highlighting their companies as minority-owned and operated to the motorcoach industry, their tour & travel partners, and legislators on issues concerning their businesses, and to create successful models that will develop and strengthen its members. Additionally, we seek to set standards of superior service.

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Coach Tourism Association (CTA)

The CTA has a membership of more than 300, nearly half of whom are coach tour operators and tour wholesalers. The other half of the membership is made up of industry supporters who help make up the coach tourism package – they include hotel groups, Tourist Boards and major visitor attractions, ticket agencies and ferry operators, as well as professional advisers and B2B companies. The CTA has played an increasingly important role in building relationships with other trade bodies and tourist organisations. It has close ties with the Home Nations Tourists Boards, the Association of Group Travel Organisers, European Tour Operators Association and the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT). It is a founder member of the European Alliance for Coach Tourism.

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Coach Tourism Association chair on the popularity of coach travel

Chair of the Coach Tourism Association, Robert Shaw, shares his thoughts on the coaching sector ahead of the new year.

Robert says travelling by coach is the greenest way for groups to enjoy visits together.

Forecasts indicate that 2024 is set to be another year of growth in the number of trips and tours by coach. On the one hand, there have been rising living costs, combined with specific challenges such as the delays witnessed at the Port of Dover. On the other, demand to travel has never been higher. Unsurprisingly, travel by coach remains the preferred choice to get groups to where they want to go, when they want. It’s this flexibility that is crucial.

The enduring popularity of coach travel is largely thanks to its sheer convenience – especially for group organisers. With door-to-door collection and drop off typically provided, group travellers are chauffeured directly to the destination of choice, whether that’s a city hotel or a rural setting, and their luggage is carried for them. And, today’s state of the art, luxury coaches, used by most Coach Tourism Association member coach operators, provide a superior travel experience than even first class rail carriages can provide.

“Travel by coach is six times greener than by car, and it’s a significantly lower emission way to travel than by train or aeroplane.”

But now, many groups are seeking even more: green credentials increasingly matter too. A significant advantage of coach travel is that it is the most environmentally sustainable way to travel among all the forms of motorised transport. Most UK coaches today are powered by low emission, high efficiency, Euro 6 engines. Most importantly, a single coach carries a high volume of passengers - usually up to 49 seats, with some capable of carrying over 80 people.

It’s this efficiency that makes coaches far more environmentally friendly, even than car sharing. In fact, travel by coach is six times greener than by car, and it’s a significantly lower emission way to travel than by train or aeroplane. In short, if your group is concerned about sustainable travel, then go by coach.

Groups can save money when travelling together by coach.

In the not too distant future, this environmental standard is set to raise even further as the coach tourism sector is exploring the transition to zero emission vehicles. In the UK, some operators are already running electric battery-powered coaches. These vehicles have a range of around 300 miles with the potential to recharge in just a few hours.

“Most UK coaches today are powered by low emission, high efficiency, Euro 6 engines. Most importantly, a single coach carries a high volume of passengers - usually up to 49 seats, with some capable of carrying over 80 people.”

In 2023, the Coach Tourism Association staged its first zero emission coach seminar, with operators and manufacturers coming together to discuss the future. Unlike regulations impacting the car market, the UK government is yet to set a date to end the sale of non-zero emission coaches. Meanwhile, as an organisation, we will continue to explore the most sustainable technology options. This means we will support our member coach operators in optimising their sustainability credentials, giving the group travellers they carry the lowest environmental impact.

But not all coach operators are the same. To ensure your group chooses a reliable coach operator, that combines luxury and sustainability with a wide and flexible range of destinations, visit welovecoaches.com . Here, you will be able to search all the Coach Tourism Association coach operators, local to your area, that provide the service you need.

About the Coach Tourism Association

The Coach Tourism Association was set up 30 years ago to bring the coach tourism industry together and to promote travel and tourism by coach.

Today the CTA has a membership of more than 300, nearly half of whom are coach tour operators and tour wholesalers. The other half of the membership is made up of industry supporters who help make up the coach tourism package – they include hotel groups, Tourist Boards and major visitor attractions, ticket agencies and ferry operators, as well as professional advisers and B2B companies.

This column was published in the 2024 Coaching Venues & Excursions Guide, which provides an array of ideas and inspiration for coach trips and holidays across the whole of the UK. You can read it here.

• Coach Tourism Association

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No matter what you’re looking for, you'll find it in Courier — and in our other publications. On top of our award-winning magazine, NTA publishes a range of travel industry destination reviews, data, statistics and fact sheets. Sharing travel industry knowledge and insights with members is our passion.

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Coach tourism in 2021: What does the industry think?

Taking the temperature of the coach tourism industry in 2021 is as difficult as it has ever been. Many operators involved are looking ahead with optimism, yet the extent of that positivity varies. Domestic bookings are strong, but there are two elephants in the room: Social distancing and the medium-term viability of continental trips.

In late April, routeone was able to hear the views of six Coach Tourism Association (CTA) members on where they see the industry going for the remainder of 2021. All four Home Nations were represented through a panel that comprised:

• Robert Easton, Eastons Holidays of Norwich
• Jason Edwards, Edwards Coaches of Llantrisant
• Margaret Finnis, J&K Coaches of Derry/Londonderry
• Kevin Mayne, Maynes Coaches of Buckie
• Dave Parry, Parrys International of Cheslyn Hay
• Robert Shaw, Harry Shaw of Coventry and CTA Chair.

Will the predicted coach tourism boom in 2021 materialise?

Views on whether 2021 will eventually deliver the boom in domestic coach tourism that was earlier predicted are mixed. What is clear is that there is sensitivity among some customers to wider messaging. An unfortunate utterance from a politician can lead to a rash of cancellations. Positive omens – either from a figure in authority or via an operator’s own channels – can quickly set phones ringing.

Robert Shaw points out that Harry Shaw is still observing a ‘wait and see’ approach by some of its clients.

Robert has previously predicted that the domestic season will extend later than normal, but he now believes that it will also see a lot of late booking activity.

“People are reluctant to commit without any definite outcome,” he says.

Jason agrees that the start of 2021’s season will be a “slow burner,” although he is confident that it will take off later. Key for Edwards is restoring confidence and getting its vehicles back to being seen on the road. A confidence building exercise is not only for travellers; it is identical for staff. “That positive energy, balanced with realism, needs to come to the fore now,” he says.

2021 coach tourism season in Scotland likely to be extended

Tour companies are already making it clear that they want to see the season in Scotland extended, adds Kevin. Many ‘incoming’ visitors to the north of the country are from elsewhere in the UK, and Maynes sees a “fairly decent” season ahead with those customers. It is also building interest in its own holiday programme, which has been helped by the decision to utilise television advertising.

“There is a pent-up demand for getting away,” Kevin continues. Maynes advertises its holidays from around Perth northwards, and the TV campaign – which makes use of STV’s Growth Fund – has delivered. “We can tell when the advert has been shown because the phone starts ringing,” he says.

Robert Easton and Dave are open minded on what 2021 will deliver. Neither think that it will bring total relief from the crisis that has enveloped coaching. Each of their respective businesses would normally carry out a lot of tours abroad, and that remains a difficult workstream to make accurate predictions for.

Predictions for continental tours resumption impossible

There is – at the time of writing – no clarity on when restriction-free continental departures might return. In some cases that has led to customers becoming frustrated with the lack of guidance on when they may expect to travel abroad again. That can cause them to seek refunds after having earlier agreed to defer bookings. Such an approach is far from ideal for companies that have built a portion of their businesses on tours abroad.

Despite that position, both operators look at the domestic market with hope. Parrys has added extra dates for British departures, and it has also introduced some day trips for the remainder of the year.

One announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the relaxation of restrictions in England saw a spike in confidence among Parrys’ customers.

Of 1,000 people who booked after that, 735 opted for domestic tours later in 2021. A mere 27 went for continental departures this year. Ordinarily, over half of Parrys’ tours would be to foreign destinations, which underlines the scale of the challenge facing coach tourism from the UK to other countries.

Eastons has seen a similar trend. Refunds for continental trips continue to outweigh receipts for those departures, but the domestic market looks strong, says Robert Easton. A recent brochure launch generated 1,000 bookings within less than a week. But there is one difficulty with domestic tours that all members of the panel agree on: Demand means that there is a growing reluctance or inability from hotels to be as accommodating of groups as they would typically be.

Eastons has also seen a surprisingly high amount of interest from single travellers. Sourcing sufficient rooms for those customers is already very difficult, Robert Easton continues.

J&K Coaches has found that some hotels are still keen enough to work with groups, but Margaret has observed a reluctance in other cases. “They are seeing such a surge in demand from families that they don’t need coaches,” she says. In Northern Ireland, hotels are already able to command high rates and that looks set to continue, she adds.

Edwards was fortunate in that it secured a good amount of hotel stock some time ago. Jason expects that demand will become even heavier in the summer, although it is possible that as other countries reopen, pressure on UK rooms may be relieved. That aside, the remainder of the year could still be tricky for operators that do not have them reserved already, he adds.

Social distancing uncertainty makes planning difficult

Multiple panellists agree that planning the remainder of the year’s domestic programme is further aggravated by the ongoing lack of certainty over social distancing.

Dave points out that a coach’s usable capacity is defined solely by the operator’s risk assessment.

But there is a degree of unease about carrying a full passenger load before current social distancing guidance is removed.

It surrounds the risk of pictures of a full coach being published on social media. Even though operating in such a manner could be entirely in compliance with a risk assessment, two contributors note that exposure to ill-informed criticism could be damaging.

Ongoing uncertainty about the end point for social distancing guidance is also compromising attractions’ willingness to take coach bookings. It is further the case that venues are increasingly reluctant to offer group rates. Uncertainty about whether attractions will need to implement social distancing over the summer months now means that they are cautious about how many, if any, coach passengers they will accept, Parrys has found.

Many customers now ‘just want to go’

Opinions are mixed on how the industry should promote the measures it takes to ensure cleanliness and how it portrays its environmental credentials. There is no argument that work on developing both of those should be undertaken; how it should be communicated is the point of discussion.

The argument for heavily promoting cleanliness is clear, although one panel member observes that it is impossible to guarantee that no passenger infected asymptomatically with COVID-19 has been carried. But it is likely the case that if the coach industry makes its endeavours known, that may grow confidence among attractions to accept larger groups.

An alternative school of thought is that many travellers are not overly concerned about the work that operators are doing and expect it as a default. “They just want to go,” says one panellist. The same is true for Euro VI. Customers have little concern about emissions, although Robert Shaw notes that such an attitude could change in the long term as ‘Generation Greta’ comes to the fore.

Attracting new customers may mean making changes

The opportunity to attract new customers to coach tourism has been cited as part of the potential fallout from the challenges currently facing international travel, and particularly cruises. Margaret notes that COVID-19 has given an opportunity that may not otherwise have existed to overhaul products. She adds that the upheaval brought by the pandemic could influence how operators work together in the future.

Customers travelling for sometimes 10 or more hours by coach to reach their destination may be difficult to sustain, she says.

Instead, there is an increasing argument in some cases for flying them to the nearest airport and utilising a local partner operator to handle the transfer and touring requirements.

“We have got to think out of the box now,” adds Kevin. A trend towards flying has benefitted Maynes; in an ordinary year, the operator would derive a lot of work from groups arriving in northern Scotland by air. Robert Easton agrees. Eastons is a holiday business, not solely a coach operator. It has seen success with walking tours, while trips on its heritage vehicles for customers on other companies’ tours to Norfolk is further diversification that is showing early positive signs.

Dave takes a slightly different view. Parrys’ continental programme majors on delivering an experience that cannot be matched when travelling by other modes. By default, some of those tours involve long distances. But the Staffordshire operator ensures that overnight stops mid-journey are taken in locations that add interest.

It had seen strong bookings for 2020 on that basis and had attracted what Dave calls “a new type of client.” They are the travellers that do not purchase based on price. There may be even more of them when travel returns in a meaningful way, he adds. Eastons is in a similar position, and it will seek to diversify its continental offering from 2022, says Robert Easton.

Industry looks towards long-term positivity

There is much else to consider for the future of coach tourism, the panel of experts agree. 2021 may well shape up strongly, but the overriding view now is that it will represent more of a transition towards longer-term recovery. There are also wider concerns around the implications of Brexit and the repayment of business continuity loans. While those issues were scarcely covered in the discussion, they are real and present considerations for the coach tourism business, panellists agree.

Consensus was also reached that assuring customers that their money is safe will be key in the future. The amount of refunds issued since March 2020 has hurt the industry greatly, but it has been a necessary evil. A trouble-free return of monies gives clients confidence to book in the future. Communicating that reimbursement will be made with no argument will become a central part of the short- and medium-term until the industry, and society, is fully back to normal, the operators that took part in the roundtable each recognise.

That norm may not return until 2022. But with the commitment to excellence and coach tourism’s best interests that was on show at the joint CTA and routeone roundtable, the industry remains in good hands and – no doubt – has a strong future to look forward to.

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BusBank is proud to promote the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) goals through our dedication as a charter bus supplier to professional tour operators. We help to encourage affordable and professional bus travel options for both domestic and inbound international travelers.

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To learn more about our status as a Charter Bus Supplier to Professional Tour Operators for the United States and Canada, we invite you to contact a member of BusBank team today! We look forward to continuing to promote bus travel and helping you to plan the perfect trip.

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Supporting and Promoting Scotland's Independent Tour Operators

Visitors wishing to see and explore the best of Scotland can choose here from a number of excellent Scottish Independent Tour Operators. In early 2021, these small businesses decided to work together and created The Scottish Independent Tour Operator Association (SITOA).

Travelling the length and breadth of our beloved Scotland, on day tours or multi-day tours we are all passionate about offering the very best in customer service and sharing our love and knowledge of Scotland.

Our members are a varied group of expert tour operators who want to show visitors to Scotland around in all sorts of transport: luxury cars, minibuses, small coaches, bikes, boats and on foot. We are united by our love of Scotland, our commitment to high standards of customer service and the pleasure we get from sharing our country with enthusiastic visitors from all over the world.

Our guests consistently reward us with great feedback and 5* reviews on TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook and heartfelt thanks at the end of each tour.

Future aims

• Ensure our sector’s voice is heard and be a part of forward planning, economic recovery
• Sustainable tourism
• Opportunities for personal development through webinars, sharing that knowledge with our guests.

OUR CORE VALUES

Representation for all in the industry, quality in the community, 5 star scottish experiences, learn more about sitoa.

We are the Scottish Independent Tour Operator Association (SITOA) and our mission is to give representation and support to all Small and Micro companies in the Scottish Tours industry. Established in January 2021, SITOA’s 3 founding members were compelled to organise after seeing so many small, local Tour Operators consistently miss out on emergency rounds of funding in 2020.

Within weeks of getting going in 2021, SITOA built up a membership of over 120 small Tour Operators from all over Scotland and entered into emergency talks with Visit Scotland and the Scottish Tourism Alliance. The result of this was our first big win: the amending of the Visit Scotland Inbound Tour Operators Fund; a fund intended to give support to all Inbound Tour Operators in Scotland in 2021. As of writing in February 2021, we are glad to report an extra £3 million has now been added to the original Visit Scotland fund. Moreover the eligibility criteria has been significantly widened to allow many more small Tour Operators from every corner of Scotland to apply for much needed support to get through 2021.

Our members are a varied bunch of expert tour operators who want to show visitors to Scotland around in all sorts of transport: luxury cars, minibuses, coaches, bikes, boats and on foot. Some of us have staff, many don’t. Some use freelancers and others do all the tours themselves. We are united by the love for Scotland and sharing our country with kind, enthusiastic visitors from all over the world. If you are a small Tour Operator in Scotland and plan on trading after the Pandemic, join us now (for free!) and receive the representation you never got in 2020.

Click here to get involved and learn more about how we plan to serve our members in 2021 and beyond.

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About the association

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Please remember this is only a guide, it does not cover every eventuality. You are the professional you must also use your knowledge, judgement and common sense. Make sure you know the restrictions, the rules, make sure you read the road signs.  

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About the Association

The UKCOA is the only trade association run by coach operators for coach operators.

Joining the UKCOA is easy. Membership rates range between £200 and £600 per year depending on the number of vehicles you operate and you will have access to the latest news and updates affecting your company, joining like minded members of the coach industry who want to provide the best possible service for their customers. For further information click here Become A Member

We represent our members in key, national and local issues, such as PSVAR, vehicle technology, setting down and picking up facilities and coach parking, driving standards and employment.

We promote the coach industry and it’s importance to stakeholders with an interest in transport matters generally, including local and national government.

The UKCOA website has a members only section with access to compliance updates and crisis control.

With regular meetings and workshops, members newsletters, and the chance to meet those who are responsible for decision making in our industry, the UKCOA is the association to join if you want your voices as a UK coach operator to be heard.

Disabled Peoples Right to use Coach Services.

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) an extremely important and influential government advisory body has finally written a piece on the accessibility of coach services. Whilst acknowledging the limitations to access unique to coaches as a result in the main of the width and height of the front entrance steps DPTAC encourage, operators the Department of Transport and manufacturers to come together to find a solution to this in the short to medium term. Read more here….

Contractors working on behalf of Vodafone will be carrying out telecom works requiring lane restrictions at Piccadilly between Bolton Street and Berkeley Street  

Roadworks  are being carried out on West Cromwell Road (A4) just prior to the junction with Warwick Road (A3220) near Tesco from 22:00 Friday 29 March to 05:00 Monday 1 April 2024 These will require an eastbound closure and westbound will be reduced to two lanes.  

From 05:00 on Tuesday 2 April until 21:00 Tuesday 16 April 2024 roadworks will be taking place at the junction of Buckingham Palace Road and Victoria Street. The impacts are as follows: Buckingham Palace Road bus stop P and coach stop 16 also closed. Operators normally using coach stop 16 should use stops R or … Continue reading “Victoria Street and Buckingham Palace Road: Tuesday 2 – Tuesday 16 April 2024”

The Coach Bay on Park lane northbound, to the rear of Apsley House, will be closed from 18 to 29 March 2024 inclusive. This is part of the wider Hyde park Corner pavement renewal works.  

In order for works to be undertaken on the carriageway, Leman Street and Prescott Street will be either fully closed or will have weight limits (permitting vehicles less than 7.5T only) between Friday 8 March and Tuesday 16 April 2024. Coaches and tour buses are advised to avoid these roads as a result.  

To allow scaffolding to be erected around 200 Buckingham Palace Road building lane restrictions will be in place at the coach entrance to the Departures Terminal on Semley Place. These restrictions will be in place 08:00 Monday to 19:00 Friday each week but will not apply at weekends or over Easter (19:00 Wednesday to 08:00 … Continue reading “Victoria Coach Station Lane Restrictions: February to April 2024”

Our Members

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Day trip to Yasnaya Polyana from Moscow: transport, sights, tips, advices

Main Sights

Of course the main sight here is the Yasnaya Polyana estate itself. Located within the estate are the house where Tolstoy lived plus the auxiliary buildings of the estate which now contain exhibits dedicated to the work of peasants in running the estate.

The natural surroundings of the estate are also a highlight and don't forget to visit Tolstoy's simple grave on the territory of the estate.

During the low season from November until April, it is possible to visit the main house by yourself and take an audio guide (Russian, English, French or German). However from April until November you can only join a Russian group excursion.

Excursions around Yasnaya Polyana are held about every hour - tickets are bought at the ticket office next to the main gates. Excursions start there as well.

During the excursion, you will visit the central part of the estate, the Tolstoy House, and the exhibition in the Kuzminsky House.

Some exciting activities are offered by the museum including horse riding, carriage rides or sleigh rides, and tea drinking at the Coachmen's house with an interactive tour of a traditional Russian peasant's hut. In summer, excursions on bikes around places connected with Tolstoy are also organised. Activities should be booked in advance by email.

There is a little cafe called Prishpekt located just opposite the main gates where you can buy tea, pies and some hot dishes. Two kilometres from the Yasnaya Polyana estate, there is a restaurant and cafe and places where you can spend the night.

Visiting Tula

Three to five hours is enough to see all the sights and museums of the estate. So you should have time to go back to Tula and have a quick look around before heading back to Moscow. You could also make the trip into a weekend trip by spending the night and next day in Tula, which is worth a day-trip in itself as the city has a nice Kremlin and is associated in Russia with samovars, weapons and the Russian equivalent of gingerbread known as a 'pryanik'. To find out more about Tula visit our Tula pages.

Suggested Timetable

Here is our suggested timetable for making the most of a day-trip to Yasnaya Polyana. All train and bus times are approximate as the exact time may change.

There are a few souvenirs shops near the car park for the estate where you can buy standard Russian souvenirs such as Russian dolls and some local ones dedicated to the estate, Tolstoy and his work.

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