Recent Developments in UK Travel and Tourism: Recent Developments in UK Travel and Tourism BTEC National Travel and Tourism


Road Transport: Road Transport Department for Transport Survey 2003 produced the following findings: 42% of people believe that congestion is mainly caused by there being too many cars on the roads The most popular solution to road congestion is better public transport (http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/page/dft_transstats_029806.hcsp)


Road Transport: Road Transport Further research findings: 67% of people believe that road charging in town centres would reduce traffic 63% of Londoners believe that the congestion charge has been a good thing


Road Transport: Road Transport Comments about what’s happening in the UK in terms of transport: Britain’s roads are becoming increasingly congested Charging drivers to use roads is becoming more popular Public transport is a key part of the solution to traffic congestion


Road Transport: Road Transport Examples of UK road transport aims: Improved/new bus services Incentives for drivers to leave their cars at home Better train services Joined-up thinking on transport Anti-congestion measures Light rail systems Road pricing


Air Transport: Air Transport Research indicates that the growth of demand for air transport in the UK and in Europe is accelerating: demand is growing faster than supply congestion and delayed journeys are the result safety concerns increase too severe concerns over the environmental damage caused by air travel


Air Transport: Air Transport The main features of recent events in UK air travel: Growth of budget airlines Increased capacity at UK’s airports Use of air travel as an alternative to road or rail journeys


Air Transport: Air Transport Biz/ed produced an ‘At your Leisure’ feature on this subject in March 2004: Go to: http://www.bized.ac.uk/current/leisure/2003_4/010304.htm for more on Low Flying Fares


Rail Transport: Rail Transport The largest recent development in train travel has been the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL). The first stage of the CTRL was opened in September 2003; the second and final stage will be operational by 2007.


Rail Transport: Rail Transport A selection of key facts about the CTRL: CTRL is the first major new railway contruction project in the UK for a century It will result in journey times from London to Paris being cut to 2 hours 15 minutes (London to Brussels in 2 hours)


Rail Transport: Rail Transport Provides a 109 km link between the Channel Tunnel and central London A Eurostar train broke the UK rail speed record on the line (old record: 259.5 km/h; new record: 334.7 km/h) An example of a Public Private Partnership: total cost of over £5 bn; £1.8 bn in government grants, private sector raised £3.75 bn in government-backed bonds


Rail Transport: Rail Transport More on this major rail project can be obtained at the following Department of Transport URL: The Channel Tunnel Rail Link In Brief http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_railways_023967.hcsp


Sea Transport: Sea Transport Data for the most recent available year (2002) give the following information about passenger and freight sea transport passing through UK ports: 558 million tonnes freight handled 29.3 million passengers transported Source: Department for Transport UK Maritime Statistics http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/source/dft_transstats_source_024543.doc


Sea Transport: Sea Transport An important development in sea transport is the construction of new ‘super ferries’. Vital that freight and passenger transport users are able to access the ports easily, so the road and rail networks have a key role to play.


Sea Transport: Sea Transport Students of travel and tourism will be interested in the growth of the cruise holiday industry: In 1993, cruises accounted for less than 2% of all foreign package holidays taken by UK consumers In 2003 this figure had risen to 4.9%


Sea Transport: Sea Transport Nearly one million UK passengers took cruise holidays in 2003 This was an increase over the previous year of 17.4% Source: The Passenger Shipping Association (http://www.discover-cruises.co.uk/)


Selling Travel and Tourism: Selling Travel and Tourism One of the most important changes in the industry has been the rise of the Internet as a selling tool The Web is becoming more important as a distribution channel for T & T products and services


Selling Travel and Tourism: Selling Travel and Tourism In 2001, people in the US spent over $13 bn on online leisure travel In Europe, the figure was approximately $6 bn Industry expects Europe to overtake US in next few years


Selling Travel and Tourism: Selling Travel and Tourism Number of high street travel agents falling (9000 outlets in 1999; 8800 in 2002) Proportion of holidays booked over the Internet rising (6% in 2000; 19% in 2002) Source: Deloitte Tourism, Hospitality & Leisure report 2004 (http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/UK_TTL_%20January%202004.pdf)


Selling Travel and Tourism: Selling Travel and Tourism Impact of greater Web use: More call centres (to provide customer support) Tour operators sell direct to customers Rise of specialist e-tailers (expedia, ebookers, lastminute)