Taxi owners' action condemned

The Valletta Alive Initiative, a group of representatives of the private and public sector lobbying for the revival of Valletta, has condemned taxi owners' disruption of the new coach shuttle service from the cruise passenger terminal to Valletta.

The group said the taxi drivers had "undermined an essential service for cruise passengers and are generally giving Malta a bad name".

"The limited number of taxis cannot possibly cope with the demand for travel from thousands of cruise passengers. If a passenger does not get transport he will remain on board the ship and will spend his money in another port which is more amenable and willing to give him the service he deserves.

"By our actions, we should seek to encourage more cruise ships to stop over in Malta rather than scare them away as the taxi drivers are doing," it said.

The Valletta Alive Initiative said it fully supported the new transport shuttle service for cruise passengers to Valletta.

"The loss of cruise passenger business is a loss to everyone. With their actions, taxi owners are endangering their own livelihood apart from several hundred others in retail and tourism.

"Valletta Alive Initiative urges the government to take the bull by the horns and ensure that no one small group takes actions which in any way undermines our competitiveness."

Valletta Alive Initiative is composed of the Republic Street Business Community, the Merchants Street Business Community, the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee and the Valletta local council.