Facing the challenges that coach tourism has to bear isn't any easier in Germany than it is in the UK. But one body is making progress at addressing the issues on a pan European basis - RDA.
The International Coach Tourism Federation, based in Cologne, Germany, is Europe's largest umbrella organisation for the coach tourism industry and was established in 1951 as the Reise Ring Deutscher Autobusunternehmunge.
It currently boasts a membership of 3,000 companies from 40 countries and 80 tourism sectors. Unlike in the UK, where there is a clear distinction between the work of CPT and that of the Coach Tourism Council, the RDA effectively undertakes both roles - lobbying and promotion of the product.
It has a clear and benign relationship with BDO, which is the German equivalent to the CPT. While BDO focuses on issues that relate more to urban and city transport operators, the RDA concentrates on those operators involved in coach tourism. Clearly, there are some overlapping areas of concern such as drivers' hours, but the RDA can focus on lobbying locally, nationally and in Brussels on specific tourism issues such as coach access, training and punitive taxation.
The organisation is heavily committed to training and raising safety standards, which in addition to offering members educational programmes, they also provide working seminars and promote the 'bus pilot' driver accreditation scheme. This offers drivers an opportunity to demonstrate additional skills to that required by law and covers other areas such as customer care.
In terms of promotional work, the RDA provides a 'new market strategy' where new perspectives on the coach tourism product are evaluated and frameworks established for members to enter new markets - incoming business to Germany being one example.
Much of this work is also backed up by a significant press and media department, who not only issues relevant releases to the media, but also holds regular press conferences to raise public awareness of the problems the sector faces. This aims to balance out some of the disproportionate negative press engendered by coach accidents.
But it is the area of sharing best practice in which the RDA plays a key role. It has demonstrated a keenness to extend its influence beyond Germany and work with like-minded organisations throughout Europe. It believes that taking this more expansive approach gives the industry a chance to deal with coach-unfriendly measures. By focusing on the positives in the industry, including its safety record, the RDA believes that the whole profile of the industry can be raised.
To assist them with this, representatives are appointed to act as a 'radar' to the organisation, and the UK and Commonwealth is handled by Dr Patrick Patridge, based in Frankfurt, but with many contacts in the UK tourism trade.
And it's against this background of sharing and networking that the RDA organises its premier event- the RDA Workshop in Cologne.
Think of it as a cross between the BTTF and the World Travel Market. Held in August, this year's event attracted over 14,000 visitors in three days to see over 1,300 exhibitors. Organisations from across Europe are well represented, from national tourist offices to relatively small attractions and suppliers. It also features, albeit on a limited scale, hardware such as vehicles and support equipment, though it is quite amusing to see them set out 'cheek by jowl' with each other. And to keep even the most die-hard diesel head happy, there is even a small heritage display as well.
The backdrop of the event is an optimistic one for the market generally. At the opening ceremony, the RDA president Richard Eberhardt said that coach tourism had enjoyed typically 10 per cent of the holiday market. However, he saw this likely to rise to more like 13 per cent over the next few years due to demographic changes.
He was also positive about the product itself and felt that coach tourism still provided a unique product despite increased competition from individual travel and low-cost airlines.
He also expressed reassurance that the quality of the product was constantly improving and customers' expectations would be high, but that the industry could deliver.
But where were the Brits? Surprisingly, there were few exhibitors and even fewer visitors. But some had made the trek and were very positive about the show.
Senior tourism officer at Medway, Mary Sewell, was in no doubt of its value: "As a direct result of a meeting held at the show last year, I now have Rochester in the brochure of one of the leading wholesalers based in Germany. There's a lot to be had here, but you do need to do your homework as well."
Vanessa Broster from The Kings Ferry was also in attendance and had brought with her a high quality brochure translated into German. Kent-based Albatross Tours was there to strengthen its links with Europe.
Managing director of Albatross Sean Taggart was unequivocal and said: "This is an excellent show and the outstanding range of exhibitors should make this show part of every operator schedule."
And there is no need to have concerns about language. Although based in Germany, most exhibitors can and are willing to speak English, and even if they don't, there's always someone who can nearby. In line with most travel industry events, there are also numerous opportunities to make new friends and business contacts over a glass of 'Kolsch', locally brewed beer, at the social events.
And the irrepressible Partridge will always be willing to help UK visitors to the show to maximise their visit - he really does seem to know everyone who is exhibiting including one of Germany's leading coach tour wholesalers, who turns out to be Irish and an ex Trathens tour driver - you won't get much closer to the industry than that! www.rda.de
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