Tourist bus fares could soar

PALMA tourist bus fares could increase by €3

City Sightseeing, the company managing Palma’s tourist buses, has asked the town hall permission to raise prices by an inflation busting 16 per cent.

The proposed increase would result in adult fares going from the current €15 to €18; juniors and the retired would see their current €7.50 fare go up to €9. Children under four would ride free and Palma residents get a 50 per cent discount.

The company justifies the move on the increase in fuel prices and the Consumer Prices Index (IPC), and on staffing costs. It wants the new fares to come into force in April.

Profits by the tourist bus service fell last year due to a 7 per cent drop in users between 2011 and 2012 (246,000 for 2011’s first 11 months compared to 230,000 for 2012’s similar period). The drop in numbers has been blamed on fewer cruise ships arriving in Palma as well as on the economic crisis.