Tour operators, while acknowledging that the National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR) fee increase is long overdue, are wondering if this would address ongoing delays in receiving their operator licences.

Patrick Hanratty, Managing Director/Owner of Mmilo Tours, writes:

“I’m still waiting for my renewal for over 18 months now. Being a member of SATSA doesn’t to seem to help. I have been told by someone who knows that many are getting their applications ahead of others who applied long before them.

“How does this happen? Need we ask the question when we all know the answer? The NPTR is just another example of another unnecessary and unworkable level of intervention by government. The solution? Scrap the NPTR and the whole passenger transport permit system.

“If a vehicle is not roadworthy to carry passengers, let the traffic cops deal with it. If it's uninsured, let the traffic cops apprehend the offender. If an unqualified driver is transporting tourists, let the traffic cops disembark the passengers and assist them to get to their destination and charge the offender with the costs of doing so.

“The traffic cops are in the front line. If they don't work properly, no administrative deskbound body will work; nothing will work. This NPTR is just another example of politicians creating unnecessary positions, who become gatekeepers, with some charging their own extra tariffs.

“An unworkable solution is not a solution and never will be. Scrap it and the whole permit system and spend the money saved on empowering and training our traffic officers to higher levels of performance.

“Make them feared by the offenders. This is a workable solution, not perfect, nothing is, but workable.”