"In Gallura, there's a boom in ghost taxis and chauffeur-driven vehicles, leaving citizens and tourists at the mercy of illegal passenger transport."
The complaint comes from the operators of Confartigianato Imprese Gallura , through their representatives of local public transport, taxi and chauffeur-driven rental companies (NCC) operating in the North East of Sardinia.
"A situation created by pseudo rental companies and 'ghost' taxi drivers, which in airports, ports, train stations, and every tourist destination steals space and work from legitimate businesses that operate in compliance with current regulations, undermining legality and also creating unfair competition for businesses in the sector ," is the alarm raised by Confartigianato.

«Not insignificant is the "summer migration" of irregular operators who come to Gallura from the rest of the island, Italy, and Europe to exploit the tourist traffic generated by the airport to high-end destinations.

THE NUMBERS – Regional data on land passenger transport on the island, analyzed by the Research Office of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna, using Movimprese data, shows 717 passenger transport companies in Sardinia, including taxis, minibuses for car rental with driver, bus transport services, school buses, and shuttle services for transfers . Eighty-two percent of these companies are artisanal. Of the more than 700 passenger transport companies, 261 are taxis, 354 are minibus rental with driver, and another 102 are land passenger transport businesses. This sector employs 3,622 people, including 308 taxi drivers, 731 rental with driver, and 2,583 other businesses.

At a regional level, in Cagliari there are 186 businesses with 1,089 employees, in Nuoro there are 68 with 517 employees, in Oristano 42 with 301 employees, in Sassari 303 businesses and 1,145 employees and in Southern Sardinia 118 businesses and 570 employees.
These are significant numbers, but "as punctual as the summer heat, we once again find ourselves reporting a situation that creates countless problems for us professionals, but also for tourists and travellers, " says Marina Manconi , President of Confartigianato Gallura. "In recent years, in the passenger transport sector , the phenomenon of illegal transport has exploded, creating not only financial losses but also problems for the safety of citizens."

The Gallura Trade Association therefore sends a message to both customers and the supervisory bodies: «Illegal trading is not only a problem for entrepreneurs affected by illegal competition - concludes Manconi - but its fight must be a commitment of society against a phenomenon that has repercussions on the entire
community. To contain this phenomenon it is not only necessary
intensify the controls , which are very effective if conducted with
mutual cooperation, but further greater cooperation is also necessary
attention, more resources and above all more sensitivity towards a
a phenomenon that risks destroying years of investments and sacrifices."

(Unioneonline)

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