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Coach travel – the green, safe and quality choice of the future Casablanca 17 November 2007

Summary of the IRU presentation at the 41st UFTAA Congress, highlighting the advantages of coach travel, the IRU star classification system, and the future positioning of the industry. Covers topics such as environmental benefits, safety, security, affordability, comfort, and the contribution to local economies.

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Coach travel – the green, safe and quality choice of the future Casablanca 17 November 2007

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  1. 41-st UFTAA Congress Coach travel – the green, safe and quality choice of the futureCasablanca17 November 2007 Oleg Kamberski Head Passenger Transport International Road Transport Union (IRU)

  2. 41-st UFTAA Congress Summary of the IRU presentation • What is the IRU? • Advantages of coach travel: environment, safety, security, availability, comfort and quality • How we want to position ourselves? • The IRU star classification system for coaches • Partnership – the way forward

  3. 2007 180 Members 72 Countries Belgium Denmark France Netherlands Norway Sweden UK Switzerland Evolution of IRU Membership Created1948 8 Founder States: Updated August 2007

  4. 1948 IRU founded in Geneva 1973 IRU Permanent Delegation to theEU established in Brussels 1998 IRU Permanent Delegation to theCIS established in Moscow 2005 IRU Permanent Delegation to theMiddle East established in Istanbul Evolution of IRU Structure

  5. Policy priorities 2007 • Sustainable Development • Innovation • Incentives • Infrastructure • Facilitation • Trade • Tourism • Road Transport

  6. Coaches are the environnemental champions Source: EU Transport in Figures, 2005

  7. Coaches display an excellent safety record Source: EU Energy & Transport in Figures, 2005

  8. Coach travel is safe and secure… … thanks also to industry voluntary initiatives • IRU voluntary security guidelines: managers, drivers, theft, regular lines, school-children, taxi drivers, bomb alert • The IRU Bus and Coach Road Safety Programme: strengthen technical requirements for new vehicles and implement industry voluntary commitments beyond current legal requirements • Driver’s Safety Checklist • Coach crisis management: provides national coach associations a tool to work together & effectively manage major accidents/incidents

  9. Coach travel is affordable • Buses and coaches enhance cohesion & social equality, since they remain an affordable alternative for every citizen/traveller • With the aging of the population in developed countries, attractive bus and coach services are expected to serve an increased market of 25-30% in the next 25 years • Coaches remain a preferred travel choice for mobility impaired people, since the industry has developed customized services (and fleets) for them

  10. Coaches help reduce congestion and pollution One coach can replace up to 30 cars

  11. Coach tourism contributes to local economies

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

  13. IRU star classification system for coaches – 1st gen. launched in 1986 • Objective: guarantee/improve quality of services by introducing quality, comfort and safety technical criteria for coaches, beyond legal requirements • Implemented by the national bus and coach associations in the relevant country after having signed a deed of engagement with the IRU, which guarantees the enforcement of harmonised standards throughout the world • Companies joining the system sign also a deed of engagement to the association, committing themselves to respect the rules of the system • Associations establish a National Classification Committee (NCC), often with the participation of other public (transport and tourism authorities) and private (associations of travel agents, tour organisers etc.) stakeholders. The NCC: • issues approval certificates that are renewable annually, after the technical inspection of coaches • issues standard classification panels placed on every classified coach

  14. IRU star classification system for coaches - main features • System applicable to touring coaches, but in some countries used also for buses/coaches used in long distance regular lines – interurban and international • Based on a 1 to 4-star scale according to a set of technical and performance criteria • Mandatory technical standards: engine power, braking system, comfort of seats (distance between seats, reclining angle, thickness, armrests etc.), minimum requirements for cooling/heating, windows, lighting, acoustics, luggage etc. • Optional equipment with identification symbols (affixed on the IRU/association panels): toilets, air-conditioning, video, kitchenette, telephone, wardrobe etc.

  15. IRU star classification system for coaches – comfort - space between seats

  16. IRU star classification system for coaches – objectives (1) • Replace the varying classification systems which were spreading in several countries, leading to confusion for users, and risks of false advertising or unfair competition between companies • Harmonise, at international level, standards of comfort, quality and interior fittings of touring coaches • GuaranteePASSENGERS, TRAVEL AGENTS, MANUFACTURERS, AUTHORITIES and COACH OPERATORS themselves, minimum uniform standards for each coach category - from 1 to 4 stars -, which are easily identifiable and controllable, and recognised at international level

  17. IRU star classification system for coaches – objectives (2) • Ensure the transparency of the "coach" product and prices. It guarantees that: • the customer will obtain the level of quality and precise category of coach to meet his needs • the coach operator will apply the right price in relation to the level of quality and comfort of the vehicle provided • Facilitate trade relationships between coach operators and travel agents, for the benefit of customers • Facilitate and improve quality of service in long distance regular bus and coach lines • Offer a ready-made industry-administered tool to improve quality, comfort and safety of public services by bus and coach

  18. IRU star classification system for coaches – main characteristics • Credible: easy to monitor and hard to counterfeit (administered by an official National Classification Committee; approval certificate on watermark paper on board of the vehicle; numbered classification panels in indestructible plastic; annual technical inspection and renewal of certificates; self-destructible validity stickers and equipment symbols affixed to the panels, etc.) • Uniform: minimum standards of comfort and interior fittings prohibiting inferior standards, but allowing higher criteria or additional equipment if so required at national level • Flexible: adaptable to technological and market developments and to customer needs

  19. IRU star classification system for coaches – implementation • Mandatory – most successful so far: the system becomes part of the national legal and administrative system • Belgium - mandatory for all tourist coaches • Romania: mandatory for all coaches used in international traffic • Moldova: mandatory for all coaches used in regular (long distance) and tourist transport nationally and internationally • Enhanced private cooperation, e.g. between bus and coach associations and associations representing the interests of tourism and travel business (travel agents): the most successful cases involve a formal voluntary obligation of travel agents to order only classified coaches. Example: the Netherlands • Trade association of bus and coach operators running the system alone

  20. IRU star classification system for coaches – future Reflection has been launched on a modern - third generation - IRU star classification system for bus and coach companies - Main ideas under consideration - • Drastic simplification of administration and reduction of costs • Creation of a global Internet site and search engine to promote companies and their services offered with classified buses and coaches • New emphasis on companies and their services • Introduction of a second layer covering companies’ service quality and safety management (beyond simple vehicle comfort and quality) • Introduction of a 5th star and criteria for it: system to consist of 1 to 5 stars (similar to hotels) • Monitoring and customers’ complaint procedure • Trade associations commitment and wider partnership with public and private stakeholders promote the system nationally and internationally

  21. Partnership – the way forward • To develop/update and spread industry-own initiatives • Star classification system for coaches • Safety • Standard contacts between coach operators and tour operators/travel agents • To lobby local, national and international/EU authorities • Restrictions in tourist cities (Italy, Venice) • European driving and rest time rules (12-day derogation and specificity of coach travel) • Travel policy

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

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