Coach transport for tourists

The various exponents that aired their views on the subject of coach transport for visiting cruise liner tourists were somewhat partisan (May 9).

The real picture is that a handling agent has an agreement with a particular garage, tailored to its needs, with agreed rates, even subject to fuel increases or decreases. These garages, once under the UBS banner, service the handling agent from within, and even obtain outside coaches when the need arises. Never, as far as I know, have coaches not being supplied due to a higher rate being asked. I fear there is a new movement to go back to the UBS dark ages, when a monopoly existed.

On some days there is a full complement of coaches and a surplus of coaches tal-linja, as we call them, out on excursions. This has become a Friday syndrome as more cruise liner calls are made on Fridays, especially by the larger ships, and because more tourists are taking weekend trips. Therefore Fridays in particular give rise to a situation of high bookings.

Here careful planning is needed, taking into consideration the timings of the Gozo ferry, of cruise liners, of the start of local excursions and even museum opening times. Viset may consider varying its charges on other days of the week. Only by diversifying and by increasing work in the shoulder months, or weeks or days, will there be real growth in the tourist sector.

We do not need any more coaches as long as the high demand is only on some Fridays during the year. Our coaches are of an acceptable quality, especially when we realise where we started from.

Our drivers are more than decent, and we did make progress. Suffice it to say that when there used to be a monopoly, the same bus did not accompany the same group all week and lateness was the order of the day, coupled with arrogance and below-standard coaches.

As regards guides, the new travel concept that is hitting Malta, that of more low-cost travellers and less tour operator business, means fewer organised tours, therefore less work for guides. Except, of course, when cruise liners call. In such situations, should there be a constant lack of guides, a solution could be found in the issuing of licences for cruise liner business, to supply shore excursions and take on guides wishing to work occasionally. Or we could turn to the teacher pool that may be available, again, using them only after our professional guides are all used up.

So, I do believe solutions exist, not through monopolies but with everybody on board.