The temporary business association between Alsa and Grupo Julia will be managing the service during the next 10 years, with an estimated 580,000 users during the first year.
Since 1 September, Madrid has a new tourist bus service operating under the name "Madrid City Tour," after the temporary business association between Grupo Julia y Alsa was awarded a 10-year management contract by Madrid City Council.
The bid submitted by Alsa and Grupo Julia was regarded as the best by Madrid City Council's technical services both technically and economically speaking, and because the quality of the service will be greatly improved.
The new service will have a fleet of 26 new buses, with the accent on energy efficiency and safety, and its two itineraries will be extended to include six new stops on Route 1 and eight on Route 2. There will also be a greater number of buses on both routes and the audio guide will include eight new languages, bringing the total to 14, as well as two information channels for children.
In addition, both the tourist bus service and the Madrid brand will benefit from Grupo Julia and Alsa's unrivaled marketing and distribution capacity via its commercial networks in Spain and abroad. The TBA will employ 95 people and expects to transport 580,000 tourists and users during the first year.
Grupo Julia already manages the tourist bus services of Barcelona and Mexico D.F. (with over one million users in 2010) and is currently introducing its tourist bus business model in the Middle East, USA, Asia and Latin America. In turn, Alsa is currently participating in the management of the tourist bus services of Malaga, Granada, Gijon, Palma de Mallorca and Benalmadena, and that of Marrakech in collaboration with Julia.
