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Date Published: 07/06/2023

Cost of living: Taxi fares in Villajoyosa and Altea to increase by 6 per cent

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The hike will affect taxis across a large chunk of the Marina Baixa region of Alicante province, except Benidorm and Alfaz del Pi

Cost of living: Taxi fares in Villajoyosa and Altea to increase by 6 per cent

Taxi fares in a large part of Alicante province's Marina Baixa region, including Villajoyosa, Altea and La Nucia, are set to rise after the Valencia regional government approved a 6.5% increase.

Taxi drivers are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet due to the rising cost of fuel, vehicle maintenance prices and inflation in recent years.

To try to alleviate financial pressure on drivers in the region, the taxi collective proposed a fare increase that has now been green lighted by the Regional Ministry of Territorial Policy, Public Works and Mobility.

The sector will have two months to introduce the new prices in the taximeters, according to the Generalitat, and the increase will be applied by drivers in Altea, Beniardá, Benifato, Benimantell, Bolulla, Callosa d'en Sarrià, Confrides, Finestrat, Castell de Guadalest, La Nucia, Orxeta, Polop, Relleu, Sella, Tàrbena and Villajoyosa.

This is the second fare hike since 2020, and in total, 72 vehicles belonging to the Taxi Association of the Marina Baixa, will introduce the new rate. Drivers in the likes of Benidorm and Alfaz del Pi operate their own rates independently.

Also read: Discount driving this summer as fuel prices drop by 25 euros

So what does this mean for passengers? During the day, Monday to Friday, the flag-down fare will jump from 3.10 euros to 3.30 euros; up almost 6.5%.

At night and on weekends, the flag-down fare will cost 3.90 euros, up 5.4%. As for the price per kilometre, in the first case it will go from 92 cents to 97 cents euros, 5.5% more; in the second, from 1.06 to 1.12 euros, up 5.7%.

And there are more changes. The price per hour of waiting time during the week will now cost 19.42 euros (1.02 euros more); and at night and weekends will set users back 23.28 euros, 1.23 euros pricier.

The minimum fare for a journey is also impacted and now stands at 3.75 euros on weekdays (25 cents more) and 5.90 euros at night and weekends (up 30 cents).

President of the Marina Baixa Taxi Association, Óscar Fernández, confirmed the fare increase request was driven by "the rise in fuel" combined with inflation and the "increased vehicle purchase and maintenance prices".

"We asked the government to try to compensate for these increases and update fares in line with the real situation taxi drivers live in.

"The last tariff increase approved was in 2020, but it was barely 2%, and after 10 years without any variation in prices, the prices needed updating. The standard of living is rising for everyone and the cost of filling up a tank gas soared by up to 20%," added the collective representative.

Drivers in Benidorm have also requested a fare increase and are proposing hikes ranging from 2.76% to 6.7%.

Other news: Half price train tickets for 18-30 year olds in Spain

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