Transport minister Wayne Furbert is considering charging higher ferry and bus fares to visitors – but he does not know if such a move would be discriminatory towards foreigners.

Mr Furbert floated the idea after meeting cruise line operators.

Susan Jackson, the One Bermuda Alliance Shadow Transport Minister, questioned whether it was discriminatory to create a charging structure of “tourists versus locals”.

Ms Jackson suggested bringing in peak fares for people buying tokens in areas such as Dockyard.

During his Budget statement, Mr Furbert said bus fares would not rise because increased usage, with more than 200,000 people coming-in on cruise ships, was expected to cover costs.

The minister said: “But, am I looking at bus fares and ferries? We are having discussions within the ministry whether there should be a different price for Bermudians, where Bermudians show residence and whatever.

“We are taking a look at that.

“I had a meeting with the Royal Caribbean line and they told me how much they actually charge to get on the bus and ferry – I was shocked [by] what they charge to get on what we charge. I was stunned.

“And they asked me ‘why we aren’t you guys charging more?’.

“I was tempted, but I want to have some more discussions with my Cabinet colleagues and with the public to get some feedback.”

He added: “Whether it’s discrimination? I am not an expert on that side.

“I have talked to people whether they think its discriminatory to charge a different fee.

“Seniors ride free, is that discriminatory?

“We will look at it, whether it is done this year or next year.

“Ferries are expensive – I think it is somewhere between $10 million and $11 million for one ferry. And, how do you pay for that?”

Ms Jackson said extra token charges during the busiest times could be an alternative.

She said: “I ask the same question and the whole conversation of whether it’s fair – and, I don’t want to use the word, but I am going to – is it discriminatory for visitor/tourists versus locals.

“And, so, I thought of a suggestion that they do in a number of cities, which is having peak-time fares.

“So, especially, if you are coming out of Dockyard to somewhere like Horseshoe Bay there might be a peak time fare.

“If you are local and you have got a bus pass it doesn’t matter, you can get on the bus whenever you want.

“But, if you are buying a token from Dockyard to get to Horseshoe, to get to town, that there might be a peak-time rate.”