Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire’s biggest bus operator has made an open offer to local businesses to promote themselves on bus tickets, as it aims to create “more than just a bus ticket”.
Stagecoach East is aiming to use its tickets and app to promote discounts on local products and services that may be of interest to bus passengers, from discounts on entry to local attractions and leisure activities, to money off sweet treats or shopping experiences.
At a national level, Stagecoach already has discounts available to customers on major brands such as Amazon Music, Rakuten and Readly, but wants to extend this to more local providers.
Stagecoach offers keen price bus fares with singles as cheap as £3, and day tickets giving a days unlimited travel from £3.32.
David R Boden, Commercial Director said: “By reinventing the bus ticket as being your access to a wide variety of discounts, which work for families, we can get people out and about exploring the Cambridgeshire; Peterborough, Bedfordshire and beyond.
“Given the current importance of the ‘staycation’, buses can provide role in encouraging our local tourism economy. We have seen the power with schemes around the country, and we would like to replicate this here.
“Tourism is worth £2.5 billion to our local economy and supports 44,400 jobs in 3,353 businesses and through the Local Visitor Economic Partnership and its Destination Management Plan, the Mayor and his team at CPCA have ambitious targets to grow the visitor economy further and get visitors staying longer and spending more.
“Buses can help visitors to do this and with these discounts’ bus travel is even more attractive. Residents therefore could benefit twice, once through the discounts and then through stronger local tourist benefits.
“So, if you have an offering that would benefit local families, please do get in touch.”
— To find out more about local bus routes and services, and to track your local bus, you can download the Stagecoach Bus App from https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/stagecoachbusapp
Establishing bus tickets as offering more than just travel
Unlocking the power of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as a destination experience