TOURIST POTENTIAL

摘要

Young foreign tourists with time and money to spare - but no car - could be bringing valuable new trade to rural tourism businesses where bus services exist. Conversely, local economies could be missing out where services have been reduced or withdrawn, especially on Sundays. Politicians and officials tend to be less attuned to the tourism potential of our buses than that of our railways, where funding and timetables have largely been protected and in some respects increased. However, there are many more bus stops than railway stations in rural areas. To reach most of our prettiest beaches, highest mountains or quaintest villages, the car-less independent tourist needs buses. In many rural areas of Britain, buses have been curtailed by councils to reduce outlay on the services that generate the lowest incomes from fares or concessionary journeys. Rarely does the potential of tourism by domestic and overseas visitors figure in the deliberations about service provision.