In Rome, 33,823 tourist overnight stays per year for every private hire vehicle licence. The figures behind a service that doesn’t exist

There is a huge influx of tourists, but transport provision is inadequate and lags behind that of other European capitals. This is the dual nature of Rome, as highlighted in the study "Dai grandi eventi al turismo: perché cambiare la mobilità non di linea è necessario", compiled by transport economist Andrea Giuricin in collaboration with Muoviti Italia, the coalition calling for reform of the sector.

In the capital, there are 33,823 tourist overnight stays per year for every chauffeur-driven car hire licence: in Madrid the figure is 3,416, and in Paris 1,462. Almost ten times that of the Spanish capital, and over twenty-three times that of the French capital. For Giuricin, the problem affects the whole country, even though the study mainly analyses Lazio and Lombardy: “Taking into account variables such as not only population but also tourism, overnight stays and the economy, it is clear that the shortage of chauffeur-driven car hire services and taxis in Italy is enormous.”

Rome accounts for 53 million overnight stays per year, compared with 33.1 million in the Madrid region and 65.8 million in the Paris area. Between taxis and private hire vehicles, there are 5,177 overnight stays per authorised vehicle in Rome, compared with 1,279 in Madrid and 1,013 in Paris: four and five times as many, respectively. There is one taxi or private hire vehicle for every 410 inhabitants in Rome, one for every 274 in Madrid, and one for every 106 in Paris. This is a vast disparity, indicative of the daily difficulties faced by tourists and residents alike. According to the study, the shortage is not solely due to tourist pressure: it is a structural issue, with potential consequences for the capital’s accessibility and competitiveness, in a sector still governed by legislation dating back to 1992. Furthermore, Rome’s transport needs extend well beyond the city’s boundaries. This is why there is a call for national reform: “Every region or local authority,” continues Giuricin, “could draw up its own laws and principles for granting licences and private hire vehicle authorisations, but the real issue is implementing a national reform that allows for a significant increase.” 

The study refers to the Jubilee, a litmus test for Rome’s transport system, but the issue is not limited to major events: residents and everyday tourists are also calling for greater capacity. “During the Jubilee and the Olympics in Milan, there could have been structural improvements thanks to the events, but it was a missed opportunity. The situation is dire.” The counter-example is Paris 2024: during the Olympics, the VTC system – the French equivalent of private hire vehicles – helped meet the rise in demand, with journeys up by 26 per cent in August, thanks to a model that allows for greater flexibility in supply. “We need structural reform that recognises the complementary roles of taxis and private hire vehicles and allows supply to be adapted to the actual needs of the local area, without pitting the different categories of operators against one another. New licences,” the economist points out, “would create a huge market: but the question is whether to prioritise the interests of twenty thousand taxi drivers or those of millions of tourists and local residents.”

The coalition is calling for a review of the criteria used to set the number of private hire vehicle licences, which are currently based on local authority parameters and historical quotas, taking into account tourists, airport passengers, major events and unmet demand. Finally, regarding the disruption, Giuricin quotes the Competition Authority: "Independent bodies are looking into the matter and attended the presentation of the study. Months ago, the Competition Authority was already reporting one million unmet journeys per month in Rome, a figure that is driving people to use the service less and less.”