Explore Cities with Big Bus Tours
The tourism sector is constantly evolving with travelers looking for new ways to explore cities. In this context, Big Bus Tours has become a globally recognized brand with its city tours offered on open-top buses. Founded in 2011, this company operates in more than 20 cities today, offering unforgettable experiences to millions of tourists. Big Bus Tours was actually born from the merger of two separate companies: Les Cars Rouges and The Big Bus Company. These two companies merged in 2011 and became Big Bus Tours, and began to grow globally. Big Bus Tours generally receives high scores on platforms such as Tripadvisor and similar platforms. Users: Praise the quality of the guidance service, the cleanliness and comfort of the buses, and the comprehensiveness of the routes.
The tours in each city are specially designed to introduce the cultural and historical richness of that region. Thanks to this system, passengers can: Get off at certain stops and explore the surroundings. Continue the tour by boarding another bus with the same ticket. They have the freedom to explore the city at their own pace. Ticket purchases and boarding procedures are made easier with QR codes. In addition, additional services such as night tours, boat tours and combined museum tickets are offered in some cities. Les Cars Rouges was based in Paris and spread throughout Europe. The Big Bus Company was founded in London and expanded to the Middle East and Asian markets. After the merger, the company’s headquarters were moved to the Belgravia district of London and the brand identity was introduced globally under the name “Big Bus”.
Big Bus Tours’ fleet is generally made up of open-top double-decker buses. These buses: carry the brand’s iconic look with burgundy and cream colors. The upper deck is completely open and offers panoramic city views. It provides multilingual guidance with headphone jacks on the back of the seats. Some buses have modern equipment such as Wi-Fi, USB charging points and air conditioning. However, there are also some criticisms; especially during the peak season, the buses are full and there are delays due to traffic. Big Bus Tours is also taking steps in terms of sustainability and environmentally friendly transportation. The most striking feature of Big Bus Tours is the “hop-on hop-off” concept, meaning “get off at any stop you want, get on at any stop you want”.
Big Bus Tours is 85% owned by a private equity firm called exponent private equity, while the remaining 15% is owned by entertainment giant merlin entertainments. As of 2019: Big Bus Tours operates only in Istanbul in Turkey. The tour duration is approximately 2 hours, and tickets are usually valid for 24 or 48 hours. Tours in Istanbul offer a general panorama of the city, especially for first-time tourists. Big Bus Tours attaches great importance to digitalization. Thanks to its mobile applications: Real-time bus locations can be tracked. Stops and routes can be viewed on the map. Buses usually offer pre-recorded multilingual audio guidance. There are also live guides in some cities.
Targets such as including electric buses in the fleet, reducing carbon footprint and increasing digitalization are at the forefront. There are also plans to operate in new cities. Asian and South American markets in particular have an important place in the company’s growth strategy. Big Bus Tours is a pioneering company that makes city tours not only a means of transportation, but also an entertaining and educational experience. With its wide network, quality service and innovative approach, it continues to be the choice of millions of travelers around the world.