Hike in tourist vehicle fares amid rising operational costs

Kochi: Traveling in tourist vehicles is set to become more expensive in the state as Contract Carriage Operators Association (CCOA) announced a hike in fares, effective June 1.“The revision is necessitated by an unprecedented surge in operational expenses. Transport operators have been facing a severe crisis due to steadily escalating fuel prices, skyrocketing costs of spare parts and recent hikes in govt permit fees and vehicle taxes,” said Riyas A J, vice-president of CCOA (Kerala).For many owners, running services under the old tariff had become unsustainable, he said. “The prices of oil and grease and spare parts too have increased. The average expense of a tourist bus operator has gone up by 20%. We were left with no other option but to revise the tariff to ensure the survival of our members and to keep our vehicles on the road,” Riyas added.The new tariff structure introduces a uniform baseline for rentals. The revised rates will be calculated based on a minimum distance of 80km and an 8-hour time frame. While the exact breakdown varies according to vehicle types, ranging from premium multi-axle buses to luxury mini-coaches and vans, passengers can expect a noticeable increase in standard daily rental packages.Acknowledging that the fare hike might impact travellers and tour planners, CCOA appealed to the public and stakeholders within the tourism sector for their cooperation. Industry experts note that while the hike protects the livelihood of operators, it may trigger a marginal rise in overall domestic tour package costs in the upcoming season.