Coming back in operation next year, the touristic bus, which has been offering various sightseeing tours around the city to visitors since 2010, is currently being finalised by the Development Company of the City Council of Santa Cruz. The project is being prepared to be put out to tender with the objective of resuming this service in the capital as soon as possible, as announced yesterday by the managing director of the area, Carmen Pérez, to DIARIO DE AVISOS.
The councillor elaborated that at present, “preliminary reports and specifications are being prepared for the tender of the touristic bus service, in collaboration with Economic Promotion and Strategic Planning, aiming to broaden the range of resources in the capital for our visitors.”
City View company, managed by the concessionaire Alsa, used to operate these touristic bus excursions through the main streets of Santa Cruz. However, due to the pandemic, the tourism management at both national and international levels decided to reduce staff and terminate the contract.
Now, the Development Society is keen to reactivate this touristic service, which was left on hold since March 2020. “Ultimately, this process will be carried out through a tender to allow various interested companies to participate in operating within the city,” Pérez states.
Citysightseeing was the pioneering company to commence the touristic bus operations in Santa Cruz. Subsequently, the city council entered into a contract with the company Alsa, which deployed City View in the city—a bus and a train for these journeys, until they were ceased after the onset of Covid.
Nevertheless, the bus won’t be the sole enhancement that will enrich the offerings for visitors to Santa Cruz. The Development Society is also in the process of preparing the tender for managing touristic information services. Even though the process is pending, the services have assisted over 50,000 individuals from January to July.
Additionally, efforts are being directed towards constructing a new Tourist Information office at the Interchange and revamping the one situated at the cruise terminal. These initiatives, initiated through projects already tendered, are expected to be finalised before June 2025. Pérez further mentioned, “The objective is to bolster the touristic infrastructure and establish Santa Cruz as a top-tier destination.”
