A nationwide survey hosted by the Coach Tourism Association (CTA) has revealed that coach holidays hold great attraction for UK tourists of all ages.
The main findings of the survey indicate that almost all coach holidaymakers are set to continue taking coach holidays, and a sizeable number of non-coach users are expected to be trying the idea for the first time over the next few years.
The first ever nationwide CTA Coach Tourism Survey heard the views of more than 25,000 people, of which almost 6,000 of them were non-coach users.
It found that 92% of those who already take coach holidays will continue to do so, while 43% of non-users (across all ages) say they are likely to try it for the first time within five years.
The main reason given by those undertaking the survey was not price, but ease, with coach holidays taking the hassle out of travelling.
More than 18 million day trips are taken by coach a year and the CTA estimates that well over five million people go on a short break or a longer holiday by coach, spending £1.4 billion a year.
Survey respondents say they take an average of 2.3 trips per year in the UK and 1.2 trips abroad.
CTA chief executive Chris Wales said: “This is the first time we’ve conducted such a survey and the findings lay a lot of assumptions to rest. Price, for example, is not a key reason for choosing a coach holiday. The chief reasons in fact were that coach holidays take the hassle out of travel and they’re a sociable way to travel. Value for money came third and price wasn’t in the top five.
“Age is another assumption. As you might expect, coach travel is most favoured by the over-65s but almost 40% of our respondents are below that age.”
According to the CTA survey, the most favoured length of holiday is four or more nights in the UK, followed by a short break in the UK of one to three nights, and holidays abroad continue to be popular for more than half of coach passengers. The CTA says this is encouraging at a time when Brexit, the lower value of the pound and terrorism might all be expected to cast shadows over foreign trips.
Wales concluded: “As well as giving us such valuable insights, the survey shows how coach tourism is on the rise. It is tremendously popular among existing users, approaching half of non-users plan to give it a try within five years and as the UK population ages the market for coach holidays is growing significantly.”
For further information visit www.coachtourismassociation.co.uk.
