Transportation Challenges in DEVELOPING TOURISM

Infrastructure

is an expense in terms of both: - Travel time &

Travel expense (gas & maintenance)
Travel across Canada - Canada is larger than USA by 200,000 sq km.
Travel to population centres
Canada’s population – is 34 Million USA is 330 M.
Least populated area of Canada is the far north
Yukon, NWT, Nunavut (Yukon & NWT 52,000 people)

Miami (Florida) 2370 km.
Toronto to Vancouver

(British Columbia) 4492 km.
DO THE MATH - How many hours would it take you to drive these distances ? - What would be your average speed ?

Avis, Enterprise)
Recreational Vehicles or Motor Coach tours
Air (Air Canada,

Westjet)
Rail (Via Rail, Rocky Mountaineer)
Fly – drive & Rail – drive packages (referred to as multi-modal transportation)
Use existing transportation networks - highways, rail services, waterways

their road trip www.gov.on.ca

highways
Ontario is the most populated province
Ontario highways are the congested

highways
Urban shift – Metro Toronto & commuters
Tourists compete with residents - ON highways

running 108kms across the top of the Greater Toronto Area,

from Highway 403 at the QEW in Hamilton to Brock Rd. in Pickering.
1st phase opened in 1997
was constructed in a partnership between a private company and the Province of Ontario.
It is now owned by 407-ETR International Inc.
http://www.407etr.com/

to – out of Toronto
Better fuel efficiency & less wear

on brakes
Less time in traffic means more personal time
Time to stay in the city – at the hotel or attraction
Increase length of stay >> increased spending
Increased spending >> increased experience
Increase experience >> better value (time & money)
Better value >> more likely to return or recommend

& off-peak periods, and at night.
70% of tolls are collected

using electronic transponder that deduct charges from prepaid accounts
30% using a license plate photography billing system.
Save time – actual avg. speeds on Highway 407 are double that of the busier free highways. (hwy 401)

in Canada
Services include: scheduled, charter, tour, shuttle, transit, commuter and

contract
- 107 M km of inter-city scheduled service
- 88 million km of Charter/tour groups
Motor coach costs range from $500,000 to $1M

windows – better visibility
AV equipped with individual seat controls
Upgraded washroom

facilities
Executive coaches have lounge seating

mid size 29

disposable income
Better educated about Tourism destinations
Other reasons such as ………,

…………
Why is motorcoach travel so popular ?
- list 10 reasons

the road
Environmentally friendly. 1 motor coach removes 27 cars from

highway
Previous studies showed intercity bus was - twice (2X) as fuel-efficient as train service, - 3X as efficient as automobiles & mass transit - 4X times as fuel efficient as commercial air

organizes tours – combines travel, sightseeing & services as a pkg.
-

transportation - land (coach, rail)
- water (ferry, cruise, glass bottom)
- air (airplane, helicopter, hot air balloon)
- includes - accommodation, meals (F&B) - tours/sightseeing, guide services

maximize sales you need to attract motor coach groups to

your business:
Hotel, resort
Attraction
Festival, special event
Convention Centre

have to know about groups?
Such as -
What do you

have to do to attract groups?
Such as -
Can you service / satisfy group needs ?
What do you have to give up ?
What are the rewards (benefits of groups)?

impact estimated at $140 M
Overnight motor coach tour generates

$7000-$12,000 per day in economic activity (inc. meals, accommodations, entertainment & souvenirs)
avg. tour passenger spends over $150/day, compared to $90 by those travelling in cars.
Sightseeing tours in downtown Toronto alone generate $4-6 million in direct revenue

year
average of 120 /day in the peak summer tourist season;

80 /day the rest of the year.

2000.
over 4,700 motor coaches visited Ottawa on overnight tours in

2000.
Motor coach tours brought almost 400,000 people to Ottawa in 2000.
Avg. visitor spends $185 visiting the capital

in advance
Confirm weeks in advance
Reconfirm just before arrival
Pax arrive at

one time (usually by coach)
Quick in /quick out: lead by a group leader
Order from a limited (group) menu
Pre-authorized or group charge – put on 1 bill

loss of revenue
Upset 1 group in the series (lose the

series)
Discounting – loss of potential earnings
Preset room and reserve space for “group”
Others:

deal with
Bring groups to your property (volume - #)
They are

quick in – quick out - “turnaround”
This allows for new visitors to your property
May stay less time than average tourist
Tend to “impulse buy” (higher expenditure per)
Led by a “Tour Manager”, Group Leader, Guide which takes care of group arrangements

on a “master account” rather than paid by the Tour

Manager
Passengers (“pax”) may return (“repeat”) with family & friends or provide “word of mouth”
For Accommodation – they usually are in a “block of rooms” - same floor or same wing
Discuss benefits

should belong to & work with:
OMCA – Ontario Motorcoach Association
NTA

– National Tour Association
ABA – American Bus Association

Bus Association ABA
National Tour Association NTA

members' organizations, and the safety and quality of industry services

through education, awareness and advocacy.
                                                    
OMCA Vision Statement
The OMCA's vision is to be a member-driven organization that is recognized by members, government officials, and industry stakeholders as a leader in the transportation and tourism industries, known for its integrity, commitment and philosophy of continuous improvement.

The OMCA will be an indispensable business partner for bus and tour operators by creating opportunities to increase revenues and decrease expense by raising the profile of the industry and the quality of services delivered by members.

tour suppliers 
- Business contacts - over 95% of the delegates

booked business 

Ontario
Motor Coach
Association

Motor Coach Association:

174 appointments throughout the week.
Sellers have a maximum of

58 appointments
Sellers move from Buyer to Buyer every seven minutes

to access the study report for Motorcoach Census 2008.

http://www.buses.org/files/Motorcoach%20Census%20Update%202009.pdf

to access the study report for Motorcoach Census Update 2009.

Request for Proposal (RFP)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUdaKUokr54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpR-k1ap4Sg