Travel agents run out of tourist coaches over free school transport

Travel and tourism agents have expressed their concern over the lack of coach operators due to the newly introduced free school transport system, the Federated Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (FATTA) has said. 

Several key coach operators have advised tourism agents that their coaches are no longer available before 9am and between 1:45pm and 4:00pm on school days, disrupting full day and afternoon excursion programmes.

According to the latest data by the National Statistics Office there were 378 coaches and 174 minibuses registered in Malta by June this year. Over 800 students are currently on a waiting list for free school transport, with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat stating on Sunday that as things stood, there will not be any available minivans in the morning on weekdays.

FATTA also claimed that the disruption compounds an already existing malpractice by some coach operators, that sees them double book their vehicles during charters. 

The association called on the authorities to act swiftly by facilitating the importation and operation of additional coaches in an effort to meet the surge in demand. 

In an effort to ensure that the Malta Tourism Authority and industry stakeholder’s investment in low and shoulder seasons don’t go to waste, FATTA stressed on the issue to be solved as promptly as possible.