Book excerpt: Inhaltsangabe:Abstract: Comparison of the situation of long-distance bus and coach services in Germany and the UK: Geographic background, market regulation and administrative framework, industry structure, market position, demand characteristics. A functional analysis provides information on typical products and activities of the industry, and some case studies demonstrate the role of this mode in different spatial contexts. Einleitung: Vergleich der Situation des Fern- und Reisebusverkehrs in Deutschland und Großbritannien: Geographische Randbedingungen, Regulierung, Unternehmensstrukturen, Marktstellung, Nachfragemerkmale. In einer funktionalen Analyse werden typische Aufgaben und Produkte des Busgewerbes dargestellt und anhand einiger Fallstudien die Bedeutung des Reisebusverkehrs im räumlichen Zusammenhang dargestellt. Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents: 1.Introduction5 2.The Range of Coach Services6 2.1Definitions6 2.2Types of Service7 3.The Operating Environment9 3.1Geographical Features9 3.1.1Landscape10 3.1.2Climate10 3.1.3Population and Settlements11 3.1.4Culture and Integration11 3.2The Social Background13 3.2.1Economy and Income Distribution13 3.2.2Work and Leisure Time in Germany and the UK13 3.3The Transport Sector15 3.4The Geographical Pattern of Tourism16 4.The Framework for Coach Operations19 4.1The Regulatory System19 4.1.1Quality Licensing19 4.1.1.1Market Access for Coach Operators19 4.1.1.2Requirements for Tour Operators21 4.1.2EU and International Regulations affecting Coach Services21 4.1.3Quantity Licensing and Service Regulation in the Coach Sector22 4.1.3.1United Kingdom23 4.1.3.1.1Service Licensing23 4.1.3.1.2Finance and Taxation23 4.1.3.2Germany24 4.1.3.2.1Service Licensing24 4.1.3.2.1.1Background24 4.1.3.2.1.2Procedure25 4.1.3.2.1.3Service Types and their Importance for the Coach Business25 4.1.3.2.2Finance and Taxation26 4.1.3.3Implications of the German Licensing System27 4.1.3.3.1The Issue of Parallel Regular Services27 4.1.3.3.2The Position of Coach and Rail in the German Licensing System30 4.1.3.3.3Service Type Competition31 4.1.3.3.4Other Issues in the Licensing System32 4.2The Economics of Coach Operations33 5.Structure and Organisation of the Coach Industry35 5.1The Number of Coach Companies35 5.2Size Structure35 5.3Business Split36 5.4The Coach Fleet38 5.5Implications of the Industry Structure39 5.6Inter-Operator Cooperation40 5.7Organisation and Planning of [...]