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Water taxi fares are up!

GeneralWater taxi fares are up!

by Khaila Gentle
BELIZE CITY, Wed. June 8, 2022
Persons who use water taxis to
travel to and from the cayes—whether
for a recreational outing or for work
purposes etc.—will now find
themselves paying up to 50% more
than they had previously been
spending to cover the cost of traveling
to or from the islands, since the Belize
Port Authority has finally authorized
an increase in the cost of both oneway
and round trip tickets for water
taxis this month—after it had blocked
earlier attempts in March by water taxi
operators to up their rates. According
to Port Commissioner Major H.
Gilbert Swaso, the increases, seen at
both major water taxi operators, are
the direct result of rising fuel prices.
Readers will recall that back in late
March some operators attempted to
raise boat fares but were prevented
from doing so after the Belize Port
Authority (BPA) issued a release
stating that those price hikes were
“unlawful and illegal”.
This week, Swaso explained to local
reporters that such a move was made
by the BPA because those operators
were increasing their fares “arbitrarily”.
Subsequently, however, those
operators submitted formal requests
for an increase in passenger fares which
have since been approved by the BPA
and took effect on June 1.
And while the new prices, which
include what Swaso has labeled a fuel
surcharge, are not permanent, they are
expected to increase and decrease
based on the local market prices of
fuel.
With the newly approved increases,
a roundtrip ticket from Belize City to
San Pedro, originally $55, will now
cost travelers a total of $79 while the
price of one-way tickets has gone up
from $31 to $41. Persons traveling
from Belize City to Caye Caulker will
now have to pay $61 for a roundtrip
ticket with Caribbean Sprinter
(formerly Ocean Ferry) and $59 with
San Pedro Belize Express as opposed
to the previous $37—increases of
around 60%.
According to the Belize Port
Authority, official personnel will be
sent to the various water taxi terminals
to ensure that operators are compliant
and also that passengers are not being
overcharged.

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