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| Venice reduces cost of coach access
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THE International Road Transport Union has welcomed the City of Venice authorities’ decision to reduce the significant cost of city entry tax for coaches in Venice.
The president of the IRU passenger transport council, Francesco Pacifico, says: “While welcoming this reasonable decision, the IRU still vigorously opposes the very principle of city entry taxes for coaches, that we are increasingly witnessing in Italy and abroad: they are discriminatory and penalise tourism, hence economic development. A coherent and business-friendly Travel Policy is needed to solve this problem.”
Under the Venice scheme, all coaches will continue to pay the entry charge with Euro 4-compliant vehicles paying slightly less.
The new Ordinary daily access fee for Euro 4 vehicles is now €280 (previously proposed €350). Non-Euro 4 vehicles will be charged €320 during low season (previously proposed €390) and €340 during high season (previously proposed €410). No special rate will be applicable during the carnival period either.
A new special Ordinary TP rate has also been put forward, which provides operators with a further discount applicable to groups which have purchased or booked local public transport packages or services authorised by the Venice council.
www.iru.org
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| ABTA restructures under new name |
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ABTA has changed its title from the Association of British Travel Agents to ABTA Limited under new shake-up plans unveiled last month.
Under the proposals, ABTA’s board of directors is set to be halved in size (from 18 to 9), including one non-ABTA member, which will be put to a members’ vote at EGM on 3 April.
The association says that the planned restructuring is required to enable the organisation to be “fully representative of the travel industry today and in the future”.
The president would be elected by all members, rather than by the board. The ABTA president would be nominated and seconded by board members.
Under the suggested changes, membership categories would change from ‘travel agent’ and ‘tour operator’ to ‘agents’ and ‘principals’.
www.abta.com
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| Chester receives CPT's top honour
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THE CITY of Chester has been awarded CPT’s Coach Friendly Award, as voted by CPT’s coach operator members.
The accolade was presented at last month’s British Travel Trade Fair at the NEC, Birmingham to Chester city council marketing manager, Gerald Tattum.
CPT director of coaching Stephen Barber says: “Chester has demonstrated a clear commitment to the coach industry, both in the new improved and increased facilities they provide and their real understanding of customer and operator needs.
“They are a shining example and one we would like other cities, like Durham, to follow.”
Other holders of CPT’s Coach Friendly Award include Stratford-on-Avon, Rochester, Windsor, Southport, Salisbury, Scarborough, and more recently Eden Valley.
www.visitchester.com
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| London coach parking map launched |
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ROADCHEF is trialling new discounted offers at four motorway service areas for pre-bookedA NEW London coach parking map has been produced by Transport for London, CPT and the Society of London Theatre.
The map gives information on costs and opening times of coach parks and coach bays, parking restrictions, useful contact details and information on best practice and passenger safety. There is also a comprehensive new section on parking within Theatreland.
Richard Pulford, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre, says: “We are very conscious of the considerable contribution that coach tourism makes to the entertainment industry in the capital. The London coach parking map is an essential guide for all coach drivers and operators visiting London.”
www.cpt-uk.org
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News
Venice reduces cost of coach access.
ABTA restructures under new name.
Chester receives CPT's top honour.
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