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COACH operator Greyhound Australia is sniffing out growth opportunities in the backpacker industry after announcing the acquisition of Oz Experience tourist bus services for an undisclosed sum.
Greyhound chief operating officer Tony Hopkins (pictured) says the deal gives the business a bigger chunk of the youth and adventure travel market.
“By introducing an ‘economy of bundling’ through our acquisition of Oz Experience, we expect an increase of up to 15 per cent passenger growth over the next year – which will translate to an extra 64,000 journeys across Australia,” he says.
“Figures from the Australian Government indicate the average backpacker spends around $6000 during their time in Australia, so this will provide a huge economic boost for struggling regional tourism destinations.”
The Brisbane-based Greyhound plans to introduce new Oz Experience packages that combine coach travel, tours and accommodation.
“Backpackers will not only be saving cash, they will also be saving themselves plenty of hassle, with the added convenience of being able to book their entire trip through a single provider,” says Hopkins.
“The acquisition has also allowed Greyhound the ability to offer greater flexibility and a wider variety of add-on travel experiences – and the option of both daytime and evening departures.”
Greyhound currently services several regional destinations including 1770, Crescent Head, Spot X, Rainbow Beach, Hervey Bay, Emu Park, Mission Beach and Yamba.
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