By unanimous decision, the Council of the Municipal Community of Rhodes gave a negative opinion on the request for the issuance of a special route certificate, determination of the starting point and stopping points for a new open-type tourist bus for urban tours (open bus) in the city of Rhodes.
Specifically, the request was submitted by the general tourism office “Olympic Rent a Car – Zouroudi Evdokia” and provided for a starting point and ending point at Akti Sachtouri, with a circular route of 13.7 kilometers and eight stops, including Agios Frangiskos, Agios Antonios Gate, the Acropolis, Archbishop Chrysanthou Square, the Aquarium and 7th of March. The route would pass through central and touristic points, with the aim of providing a panoramic tour for visitors.
The proposal of the Directorate of Technical Works and Infrastructure stated that some of the stops do not meet the requirements of the legislation, as they are not located in points of tourist, archaeological or cultural interest or do not fall within the competence of the Municipality. It was also pointed out that the proposed route largely coincides with that already approved for an existing open bus, while the city’s new traffic regulations have not yet been implemented, which makes planning difficult.
In the previous discussion, the president of the Municipal Community, Ms. Kardoulia, emphasized the city’s intense traffic problem, underlining that another open-type tourist bus will burden it. Other members of the Council expressed similar reservations, stating that two open buses are already operating and a tourist train will soon be launched, with all routes following roughly the same route.
Proposals were also submitted to determine a maximum number of such vehicles in the city through a regulatory provision and to auction the routes, in order to ensure revenue for the Municipality and avoid intense competition, which according to members of the Council “only causes damage” to the overall image of the city.
