August 27 2021
Coach travel is an important part of Visit County Durham’s tourism strategy, and in this blog they write about the measures they are taking to welcome coaches across the county.
Durham is an incredible county, with fascinating heritage, stunning landscapes, excellent eateries and a warm North East welcome. And with its fantastic range of group friendly attractions, activities and accommodation, it has cemented its position as a coach travel destination.
Coach travel is an important part of Visit County Durham’s tourism strategy, providing an accessible and more sustainable way to explore the area, and as a result, driving footfall, supporting the economy and creating and supporting jobs.
Visit County Durham works with a consortium of partners from across the county to grow the coach market and raise the profile of the county with coach operators and group travel organisers, under the ‘Discover Durham’ groups and travel trade brand. A dedicated website, www.discoverdurham.co.uk, showcases the county as a group travel destination, featuring information on coach friendly attractions, accommodation and tour guides, and providing inspiration through a series of full and half day itineraries. Dedicated e-newsletters and social media activity also take place to support and grow the coach market for the county, whilst a dedicated information service is also available to assist with all aspects of planning a coach visit to Durham.
The Coach Park, located at Belmont Park and Ride, provides free parking for 30 coaches, facilities for drivers to clean vehicles, toilets, and from 1 September 2021, will have the facility to empty chemical toilets. Drivers can also travel in and out of the city centre for free from the coach park on the Durham Park and Ride service, which runs frequent shuttle buses from 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday.
As Durham’s tourism businesses emerge from the devastation caused by the pandemic, coach travel will play an important role in the recovery of the county’s visitor economy, with consumers seeking comfort and convenience. And as the county bids to become UK City of Culture 2025, coach travel will enable more consumers from across the country and beyond, to experience Durham’s world-class cultural offer.
The county’s events and festivals are also identified as being an opportunity to attract coach travel, and one such event, Lumiere, is proving to be the light at the end of the tunnel, as the UK’s leading light festival is set to return to Durham this November, with dedicated communications and facilities for coaches in place.
To find out more about Durham as a destination for coach travel, visit www.discoverdurham.co.uk