A report by the Lanzarote Chamber of Commerce on the public assessment of the taxi sector on the island warns that the service is "deficient and improvable." In a survey with 300 testimonies, this organization states that the service fails "in a generalized way."
Thus, for just under half of those surveyed (45%), the more than 500 taxis in circulation on the island are insufficient. The Chamber of Commerce has warned that "the tourist reality of Lanzarote causes saturation scenarios in the demand for the service" and that residents "cannot use the service either, as most vehicles are displaced to tourist areas."
Among the most highlighted points, they criticize the waiting time, the existing fleet, its overall assessment, the available stops, and the rates. From the analysis carried out, they only approve the interior condition of the vehicles and their general appearance.
Thus, the study states that the sector's switchboards are "inoperative," that there are no taxis at night, and that the vehicles "do not pick up passengers despite returning empty." In this sense, the study commissioned by the Chamber proposes that in times of high demand, "any taxi can pick up passengers" from Lanzarote Airport and the Port of Arrecife "to avoid unnecessary queues and waits," in addition to taxi drivers being able to pick up passengers in municipalities other than their own when there is high demand, and that VTC licenses be granted on the island.
For its part, the Chamber proposes that the vehicle management and coordination system be improved; that the fleet be expanded and modernized; that the infrastructure and access points be improved; that the quality and training of the service be managed; and finally, that communication and awareness campaigns be carried out.
Among other measures, it proposes the creation of a single management platform, which is operational 24 hours a day and is capable of assigning taxis based on demand and locations, along with a public application through which taxis can be requested and see availability in real-time and even manage payments. It also asks that it be legally enabled that any taxi can operate in any municipality, prioritizing moments of peak demand.
Another of the proposals highlighted by the Chamber is to create "smart stops" that have information panels and location through an application that covers the demand in peripheral neighborhoods, hospitals, cultural centers, and leisure areas.
Finally, it advocates for the introduction of licenses for VTC platforms, "as a regulated complement to the traditional service" and assures that this service is more in demand among young and middle-aged women, especially in the capital of Lanzarote.