PRESIDENT of the Majorcan Taxi Drivers Association, Gabriel Moragues, said yesterday that since summer this year, self-employed professionals in the taxi business have seen their earnings fall by as much as 30 percent.
Moragues expressed his concern over the decline, adding that the situation could get even worse in the coming months as it is widely believed that the current economic crisis is going to deteriorate even further. Moragues said that on top of the fact that the taxi industry is picking up fewer clients, driver income has also been hit by the fact that months ago the price of fuel hit historic highs. A recent encouraging drop in the cost of petrol and diesel looks to be short lived, with Moragues warning it may go up again. Tourists, he said, were frequently those who used taxis for longer journeys whilst those living and working on the Island made shorter trips. The summer season was therefore the most profitable time of year for drivers.