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IRU Membership 2008

United we stand… Graham SMITH CEO Heyfordian Travel (UK) President of the IRU Passenger Transport Council Vice President of the IRU. 2008 180 Members 72 Countries. Belgium. Denmark. France. Netherlands. Norway. Sweden. UK. Switzerland. IRU Membership 2008. Created 1948

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IRU Membership 2008

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  1. United we stand…Graham SMITHCEO Heyfordian Travel (UK)President of the IRU Passenger Transport Council Vice President of the IRU

  2. 2008 180 Members 72 Countries Belgium Denmark France Netherlands Norway Sweden UK Switzerland IRU Membership 2008 Created1948 8 Founder States: Updated August 2007

  3. 1948 IRU founded in Geneva Consultative status with the UN 1973 IRU Permanent Delegation to theEU in Brussels 1998 IRU Permanent Delegation to the CIS (former Soviet Union) in Moscow 2005 IRU Permanent Delegation to theMiddle East (and Asia) in Istanbul Evolution of IRU Structure

  4.  Coach tourism in Europe  Europe remains the main host market for global tourism • 54% of all tourist arrivals • 4% stable annual growth in recent years • 25% expected increase by 2010, e.g. in Germany • huge and growing population • free travel area, i.e. one visa for 25 EU Member States

  5.  Coach tourism in Europe  • Improvement in comfort and efficiency of coach travel • Niche and new markets: Europe provides endless opportunities for growing group travel • Historic sites • Sporting events • Spiritual trips, e.g. The Da Vinci Code Film trail • City tours • Culture trips • Culinary and wine-tasting trips etc.

  6.  Coach tourism in Europe  • Competition with other transport modes • Subsidised air and rail travel • Low cost airlines • High fuel and social costs • Penalised or denied access to city centres • Venice, Rome, Florence etc. • London LEZ + LEZ's with various rules spreading all over Europe • Over-regulation • Loss of flexibility with removal of 12-day continuous driving derogation • 6-day maximum driving • Increased weekly rest times • Driver’s loss of earnings

  7.  Coach tourism in Europe  Impact of the loss of the 12-day continuous driving derogation • Operating costs up 25% since April 2007 • Profit margins down by 25 -30% • 18% more planning staff and drivers needed • 20% of drivers thinking of leaving the occupation

  8. Long term challenges • Concerted effort by the industry and partners needed to improve coach image • Not just for the young, elderly or those on low income • Must be seen as a credible alternative to get to a destination • Persuade politicians, partners and the general public that coaches are: • Efficient • Energy compliant • Provide comfort and quality • Access to city centres • Promote coach travel as a global brand

  9. Promoting coach travel The IRU can help by: • Building and increasing political weight at global level • Pooling industry know-how • Expertise • Best practice • Helping to build a global brand for the coach industry • Safety • Quality • Environmental-friendliness • Establishing guaranteed quality and safety standards

  10. IRU Star Classification System  • 1 to 4-star scale according to a set of technical and performance criteria • Based on comfort standards • Annual vehicle inspections • Issue of classification panels (labels)  • Not known by partners and customers • Somewhat bureaucratic • No 5-th star

  11. Results: coaches are getting more comfortable Belgian coaches in each IRU star category (% of total) Source: FBAA, 2007

  12. The new IRU Star Classification system – towards an industry brand • Simplification and streamlining of administration • Vehicles to be rated from 1 to 5 stars • Companies to commit to basic rules of service quality and safety management • Global Internet site and search engine to promote companies and their services • Customers’ complaint procedure

  13. IRU Star Classification System – objectives • Consolidate varying systems in various countries • Guarantee recognisable minimum uniform standards for each star category • Harmonise level of standards at international level • Ensure transparency of the “coach” product • Help forge partnerships between operators and other trade partners

  14. IRU Priorities 2008 • Sustainable Development • Innovation • Incentives • Infrastructure • Facilitation • Trade • Tourism • Road Transport These are also the priorities of theIRU Global Training Academy

  15. Welcome to the IRU World Congress 2008: Istanbul 15 – 16 May 2008

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