Angry hoteliers insist tourists’ concerns on public transport being ignored

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association has expressed serious concern that the changes being introduced this Sunday to the public transport service stop short from addressing the many complaints being made by visitors.

“It has been widely announced that the changes being introduced on the 11 September should lead to a solution to the serious shortcomings of the new public transport service and that as of this Sunday the service should start meeting the commuters’ expectations, including that of tourists,” MHRA president George Micallef said.

“However, on the basis of information provided, the MHRA is not confident that the problems experienced by tourists so far will be resolved.”

Micallef said the complaints of tourists are not being heard: “We have not come across any measures that will specifically address the concerns raised by most tourists. We have neither been consulted or received any information that gives us some comfort that things will improve by then, not by Malta Transport and much less by Arriva. We have recently asked Malta Transport to explain to us the planned changes as of the 11 September that will lead to an end to the problems, but we have heard nothing.”

Micallef said that from past surveys, it is evident that over 300,000 visitors have already used the new public transport service and the feedback by visitors was evidently very negative:

“Given that public transport is a critical success factor in our tourism product, we cannot afford to have a public transport that disrupts rather than facilitates the life of the thousands of visitors in Malta.

“We need a public transport that facilitates and enhances the visitors’ experience in Malta. However, the service being provided is frustrating tourists and the situation has to be tackled without further delay.”

Following meetings MHRA held with Malta transport in July, the MHRA has been very closely following developments with public transport which has been a main cause of complaints with tourists ever since it started in July.

Although the situation did somewhat improve from the “disastrous” state it took off from – which was the term used by the Malta Transport authorities during talks held with the MHRA –  the association said things were nowhere near where they should be.

“Tourists continue to complain about the service on a regular basis. Complaints continue to come in. Just this very morning, we received complaints from tourists who yesterday had to wait on a bus stop in the main road of St. Paul’s Bay to catch a bus to Sliema from 8.15pm and 9.30pm after which they gave up, as all the buses that passed where full. These sorts of complaints are very common,” Micallef said.

The MHRA said the main problems originate from commuters residing in the main tourist areas of Sliema and St Julian’s, and Bugibba and Qawra, but there are also problems in other frequented areas in the north and south of Malta.

The MHRA said the main reasons cited by commuters using the service appear to be three: the bus routes are far too long and taking them a very long time to get anywhere; the buses are oftenfull when they call at the bus stops; and the advertised bus schedules are unreliable.

“Comments made yesterday in the media by serious authorities responsible for public transport that they expected that complaints about the new public transport service will continue for 10 years will make everyone question whether there is the will to fix the serious problems linked with the new public transport service,” Micallef said.