Saturday, July 19, 2025
The UK government has stated it is exploring changes to rules on who can use concessionary bus passes before 9.30am, a decision which threatens to have far reaching consequences for the tourism sector, accessibility policy and regional mobility plans. The Department for Transport (DfT) said it is “exploring next steps” in relation to proposed changes to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS), which prevents older and disabled passholders from travelling for free until off-peak times.
Referred to in a parliamentary written question, it’s an issue that has brought renewed focus to the economic and social effects of limiting the the ability of disabled people and pensioners (who make up a substantial proportion of UK tourists) to travel early in the morning.
Current Policy and Proposed Change
Currently, those of eligible age (state pension age) or qualifying disability are entitled to free bus travel after 09.30hrs on weekdays under the ENCTS. The DfT response released to parliament said that while local authorities could directly finance early travel, any national alteration would have to acknowledge financial costs. The scheme is currently costing about £700 million a year.
Reforms under consideration They are considering reforms in the context of the commitments to national accessibility and the transport equity outlined in the government’s Inclusive Transport Strategy.
Tourism Impact and Domestic Visitor Flow
Travel statistics from VisitBritain reveal that 20% of domestic tourism spending is thanks to the over 60s. Most of them involve morning landings at places like Tajik fortresses, seaside villages and grassland trails. The present policy defers the reach of such experiences by atmos— pheres, reducing the choice of travel itineraries and visitor economy dwell times.
Tourism groups say loosening the morning curfew would boost attendance at early tours, morning markets and cultural sites. Moreover, facilitating disabled travellers’ punctual chances of reaching workplaces could also indirectly help tourism work force, such as casual of hospitality work.
Accessibility and Employment Considerations
Existing threshold, 9.30am, prevents disabled passengers on concessionary travel from doing morning jobs. A significant share of these part-time and early-shift tourism workers are the youth, according to national labour-force statistics. It could also help to achieve the UK government’s broader goals of cutting economic inactivity among the disabled population and supporting inclusive growth objectives.
The extended hours of eligible travel is also viewed as a useful contribution towards the government’s Disability Action Plan and regional inclusion strategies.
Regional and Economic Development Implications
Coastal and rural areas — including Cornwall, Cumbria and Northumberland — are set to gain disproportionately. These destinations are the focus of the UK Government’s Tourism Recovery Plan, and benefit from targeted investment to develop sustainable, inclusive visitor economies. Morning travel flexibility would promote regional spread by facilitating access to these regions during off-peak hours via public transport.
According to a report by Transport Focus, there could be a return of up to £1.60 to local economies for every £1 invested in concessionary travel through spending on related tourism, hospitality and participation in culture activities.
Financial Implications and Local Authority Duties
Travel eligibility is currently being reviewed at national level, but local authorities may make more generous arrangements. Such expansions are discretionary and differ by council, however. This can lead to disparities and non-standardisation between different parts of the country. The “DfT recognises the importance of financial sustainability and comprehensive impact assessment before any statutory changes are made”.
The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for a joined-up approach, with explicit funding mechanisms, to ensure fairness of access throughout the country.
Consistency with Transport and Tourism Plan
All changes to policy would have to be in line with:
Inclusive Transport Strategy (2023–2025) -with key ambitions for improving accessible transport.
The National Disability Strategy, which will work to phase out systemic barriers to access to daily mobility.
The Tourism Recovery Plan, which focuses on year-round, accessible, sustainable domestic tourism.
The Levelling Up White Paper addressing inequality of regional transport and labour access.
Summary and Outlook
The Department for Transport’s recognition of a formal review hints at a turnabout to concessionary travel policy, and not in a good way for the UK tourism industry, especially in rural and coastal areas. A tool for unlocking the labour market or a conduit for increasing domestic visitors, a potential change to the 9.30am travel ban will be on the agenda for stakeholders across transport, local government and the tourism industry.
References:
Department for Transport UK.
