Cape Verde's transport system finalizes multi-destination travel itineraries under a unified fare system
Transforming Cape Verde's Transport Landscape: Intermodality in Action
Eager to diversify the tourism experience beyond "sun and beach" vacations, the archipelago of Cape Verde is looking to harmonize its public transport services island-wide. This move aims to entice the annual influx of 1.2 million visitors, a significant economic pillar, to venture further than just Sal and Boa Vista.
Currently, the focus largely remains on the islands mentioned, with synergies being identified by a collaborative workforce, as confirmed by Fernando Braz de Oliveira, administrator of CV Interilhas. The concept of intermodality — seamless travel across various transport modes — is being explored at multiple levels, from combined tickets to collaborative backup operations and parallel transport partnerships, such as those for cargo or luggage.
Schedules and itineraries are being reengineered, working towards a synchronized flow that allows a ship to arrive at an island in time for a connecting flight or vice versa.
"This is achievable for us," declared Pedro Barros, TACV's president, optimistic about the venture, mentioning that an initial trial has already commenced with the island of Brava. Connections to Brava, which are made via Fogo, then continuing by sea since Brava lacks an airport, will garner the first benefits from this integration, as discounts implemented by the government from the end of 2024 to make the destination more accessible will facilitate ticketing.
Air links to São Vicente and the ensuing sea transit to Santo Antão, as well as the connections between Santiago and Maio, are other prime candidates for intermodality. Both parties concurred that while the operational synchronization presents challenges, the situation will likely improve with the addition of more vessels and planes, and planning efforts are underway.
"The solution is within reach, discussions are advancing, and it's just about putting it into practice — a potential that could be initiated in the near future and expand gradually," stated Pedro Barros. Planning trips by CV Interilhas is bound by obligations dictated by the concession contract with the government, ensuring passenger and cargo security, essential supplies for isolated islands, and profitability.
"We possess flexibility to adapt our operational model in collaboration with the authorities, as we have done previously on various occasions, such as catering to the requests of producers who wanted to expedite market access for their products," added CV Interilhas. Furthermore, the company is considering the creation of lines to generate demand, such as those linking tourist islands like Sal, Boa Vista, and Maio, an idea found to have untapped potential.
The causa belli for intermodal collaboration is clear: "We initiated this dialogue, established the groundwork, and put together the framework to advance with tangible solutions and a long-term vision for this partnership. These are adjustments that can be made and executed sequentially," emphasized Fernando Braz de Oliveira.
CV Interilhas faces challenges like limited boat and plane availability to ensure operational synchronization. Nevertheless, the development is optimistic about the future, as the projected improvements to existing means and the planning process are progressing steadily. The potential rewards of this transition extend far beyond mere connectivity, promising to stimulate tourism, economic growth, and cooperation between Cape Verde's captivating islands.
- Seamless travel is being considered across different transport modes in Cape Verde, which could potentially include finance for ticketing discounts to stimulate travel to less-visited islands like Brava.
- The schema of synchronized travel between islands such as São Vicente, Santo Antão, and Maio is a prime candidate for intermodal integration, and CV Interilhas is planning to create lines that link tourist islands like Sal, Boa Vista, and Maio to increase demand.
- The successful implementation of intermodality in Cape Verde's public transport services has the potential to not only improve connectivity within the archipelago but also foster economic growth in the tourism and lifestyle sectors, and harmonize the worldwide perception of the country beyond just sun and beach vacations.
