Souvenir shops join white taxis in shuttle protest

A group of 20 shop owners have presented a petition to the government expressing their concern on the proposed shuttle service between Pinto Wharf and Valletta for cruise liner tourists.

This follows another petition submitted by 160 drivers of white taxis to MPs last week. The drivers insisted the shuttle service being proposed by the Malta Transport Authority and Viset Malta will threaten their livelihood.

The shop owners, who have businesses in parts of St John and St Paul's streets, Lascaris Wharf and the area around Victoria Gate, believe the shuttle service will now make cruise liner tourists think twice before walking into the city.

When it was pointed out that it was likely that the shuttle service would be an alternative to taxis, rather than to walking, the shop owners said those who opted for a taxi chose to walk back down to the harbour when they realised it was just a short distance.

"The only tourists we get to stop to shop in our shops are cruise liner tourists. We will certainly lose them if a shuttle service is introduced," they insisted.

The petition was presented to Transport Minister Censu Galea, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech and Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo.

Earlier in the week, Viset chief executive Chris Falzon had insisted that the proposed shuttle service would cater for the tourists' different needs.

He had said that there were thousands of passengers on a cruise ship and while some opted to take a taxi to the city, others preferred to walk, go on an excursion or take the shuttle service - the tourist had to be given a choice.