Mauritius Pushes for 1,000+ More Taxis to Serve Tourism Boom

The Mauritian Minister of Transport, Osman Mahomed, has signalled that new taxi permits specifically for hotel establishments could be issued soon. The announcement, made during parliamentary proceedings this Tuesday, 11th November, comes as a direct response to concerns over limited taxi services at some resorts, which the Minister insisted are a “crucial” supporting element for the booming tourism sector.

Key Takeaway: New Licences Imminent for Tourism

The push for new licences is aimed at addressing a gap in provision, despite a previous 2022 survey by the National Land Transport Authority (NLTA) showing 1,079 authorised taxis already serving 67 hotels across the island.

Crucially, that same inquiry found 23 hotel establishments had no specifically licensed taxis stationed on-site.

Minister Dismisses Hotels’ Excuses

Minister Mahomed challenged the reasons some hotels gave for the lack of authorised taxis. He noted that some cited “limited space” on their premises to accommodate the vehicles or, allegedly, a “lack of need” for the service.

However, Mr Mahomed firmly asserted that “no hotel management can claim that there is no need for taxis at a hotel base,” maintaining that transport is an “essential support service” for the tourism industry.

The Minister pointed out that these hotels are, despite their claims, utilising alternatives for client transfers and excursions, including contract cars, contract buses, and external taxis.

NLTA Ordered to Investigate Need

In light of the sustained rise in tourist arrivals, Minister Mahomed has instructed the NLTA to take concrete action.

• A new inquiry must be conducted specifically at the 23 affected hotels to accurately determine the need for issuing fresh taxi licences.
• In cases where limited space remains the obstacle, the Minister has also directed the NLTA to explore the availability of alternative sites immediately outside the hotels.

This proactive step aims to ensure visitors have easy and regulated access to taxi services, thus enhancing the overall tourist experience.

Source: Le Mauricien