BOURNEMOUTH is in the running for the title of Coach Friendly Destination in the British Coach Tourism Awards.

The British Coach Tourism Awards recognise excellence in coach tourism and the award for Coach Friendly Destination is given to the UK locations that best demonstrate a commitment to welcoming coaches, coach groups and coach drivers.

In addition to on-the-ground delivery, judges will be looking for examples of website development and partnership working.

Bournemouth will be competing against Devon, Guildford, Beverley, Burnham-on-Sea, Otley and Wells.

David Squire, managing director of Yellow Buses and chair of the Transport Sector Group of the Bournemouth & Poole Tourism Board, said: “It is fabulous for Bournemouth to be recognised and shortlisted for the BCT Awards, we’ve worked really hard to make the town coach friendly and we look forward to welcoming even more coach operators and their groups to our wonderful town in the future.”

Jon Weaver, head of tourism marketing and events at Bournemouth Tourism, said: “We work hard to make sure that coach groups feel welcome, both by offering this breadth of choice and by catering for their specific needs before and on arrival.”

Bournemouth was awarded ‘coach friendly’ status from the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) in 2016 when the town’s commitment to making sure coach parties received a warm welcome was described by the panel as “second to none”.

The winner will be announced during a ceremony at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham March 21.