The International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the European Cities Marketing (ECM) have joined forces to promote the use of buses and coaches in European cities, as a safe, environmentally-friendly, affordable mobility and travel alternative for local citizens and visitors alike.

Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, President of ECM, said: “We are pleased to become partners of the Smart Move campaign as it’s about time we promote coach friendly policies across Europe to ensure sustainable mobility for group travel.”

In particular, the IRU and ECM will focus their efforts in implementing the joint ETOA, ECM and IRU Charter for Successful Tourism in Europe, putting the emphasis on the need for partnership between operators and city authorities across Europe, whilst at the same time promoting and facilitating coach travel and tourism in Europe.

Graham Smith, Vice President of the IRU, stressed: “We are delighted to enter into this new generation of Smart Move partnership with our partners from the city tourist offices and convention bureaus in Europe. Only by working together do we stand a chance to bring added value to local communities, visitors as well as coach tour organisers and operators.

This is exactly the objective of our Smart Move campaign and the IRU’s City Trophy Award, whose purpose is to reward municipal authorities that implement policies favouring coach tourism for emulation by others.”