The new regulations are more stringent about taxi ranks, the use of roof signs and taxi meters

An increase in taxi fares has been announced in an amendment to the Road Transport published in a supplement to last week's Official Gazette.

A press release sent on Friday November 28, from the principal traffic engineer from the Ministry of Tourism and Transport, Patrick Andre, said that the amendment had been approved by the government after consultations with the Seychelles Licencing Authority, the Taxi Operators Association and other stakeholders.

Aside from an increase in fares, the revisions call for the introduction of a code of conduct for taxi drivers, details about taxi ranks and more stringent regulations concerning the use of roof signs and taxi meters.

The new fares will be charged at R19 for the first kilometre and R6.25 for every kilometre thereafter for Mahe. The rates increase for Praslin and La Digue, where R22 will be charged for the first kilometre and R7.50 for each additional kilometre.

The changes represent a R4 increase on the first kilometre and more than one rupee extra for every additional kilometre for all islands.

But aside from the increased fares, the new regulations also place additional charges on baggage, with a R5 fee to be charged for each piece of luggage.

The supplement describing the new regulations notes however that small items, specifically handbags, camera cases and “airline travel bags,” will not be charged, but does not indicate how these new charges will be enforced.

According to the press release, the revised rates have been “long overdue,” given that they were last changed in 1993. Since then, the release said, the government gave incentives to taxi operators so that increased transport costs were not passed on to clients.

But “With the ever-increasing cost of operations it was agreed that it was now appropriate to revise the fares to bring them more in line with real costs,” the press release said.

Due to certain technical difficulties, the rates will only be programmed into taxi meters starting next year, but the press release noted that the rates are “effective with immediate effect.”

More details about the new regulations are expected to be given on Monday December 1.

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