THE Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) has approved five companies to provide online bus ticketing services, marking a key milestone in Tanzania’s ongoing efforts to modernise the public transport sector and improve transparency in ticketing practices.

In a statement issued yesterday, LATRA stated that the move is part of a broader government agenda to enforce cashless, paperless transactions in long-distance bus travel and address long-standing issues such as ticket fraud, double booking, and terminal congestion.

 “The five firms have fulfilled the statutory conditions and are now authorised to offer online ticketing services in accordance with the law,” read part of the statement signed by LATRA’s director general, CPA Habibu Suluo.

The regulator expressed confidence in their progress and pledged to continue offering technical guidance to ensure compliance is completed in a timely manner.

Meanwhile, Duarani Innovative Company and Itule Company, which previously faced compliance challenges and were issued a seven-day deadline, have reportedly shown improvement. They have been granted additional time to meet remaining legal requirements.

The shift towards digital ticketing was initiated following persistent public complaints over inefficiencies and malpractice in manual ticketing processes. In response, LATRA began phasing in mandatory digital platforms for all interregional bus operators in early 2024, giving companies a grace period to adopt or integrate with licensed systems.

The reform is grounded in the Transport Licensing Regulations (2020) and amended directives aimed at improving service delivery, revenue tracking, and accountability in the passenger transport ecosystem.

Authorities say the online ticketing system will also support data-driven planning for future infrastructure development, particularly in bus terminal design and route management.

While implementation has seen mixed responses from bus owners—some citing costs and technical readiness—LATRA has maintained that the benefits of the reform outweigh the transition challenges.

Once fully operational, passengers will be able to search for trips, compare prices, book seats and receive digital receipts, eliminating the need for physical queuing and middlemen.