Coach tours could return to West Norfolk as soon as next month
The industry has set out its COVID 19 recovery plan
Last updated 30th Mar 2021
The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), have set out their Covid-19 recovery plan for the industry.
The biggest part of their plan is for a £150million grant-based scheme to be created to support English and Welsh operators start up again. Similar schemes have already been created in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Another part of the recovery plan for the industry is to have Government backed campaigns to promote coach travel.
Klarners Executive Travel provide day trips an tours around the area, but were previously left out of the Government support packages.
Director of Klarners Coaches, Graham Klarner told us he's concerned the same thing might happen again:
"The money is passed to the local authority and it's then a discretion of the local authority as to whether that money is passed on or not and during the last meeting that was held just recently they specified it's down to the individual authority, so it's a little bit of a lottery as to whether we do or don't get the support"
Klarners went from being fully booked for the year to having nearly everything cancelled within a four week period.
Graham added:
"We'll just have to battle on and do the best we can, as we have over the last year"
The other part of the plan is for the Chancellor to extend repayment terms for Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans that he committed to in September 2020.
CPT Chief Executive Graham Vidler said:
"The coach industry has suffered as much as any other during the pandemic and has inexplicably been treated differently to other areas of the leisure and hospitality industry. Today's strategy sets out the road to recovery.
"We need to see coaches treated in line with other leisure and hospitality businesses and this must include a grant scheme to help operators get holidays up and running generating income for local economies across the UK. Without this, many operators will find it unviable to open their doors meaning attractions and places across the country will see less footfall placing jobs and businesses at risk."