The first wave of holiday-makers and tourists has already arrived in Mahajanga following the publication of CEPE results. As a preferred tourist destination for Malagasy people, the City of Flowers welcomes numerous visitors each year who come to enjoy the long holidays, even before the national holiday celebrations.
As planned under the agreement between transport cooperative managers, the travel ticket price has been adjusted to 70,000 ariary for all national cooperatives operating between Antananarivo and Mahajanga for over a week now. Since last year, however, some national cooperatives had already set their fares at 70,000 ariary, due to road conditions and inflation in vehicle spare parts prices and vehicle wear.
"The old seasonal fares, applied during Easter, Christmas, or peak season holidays, are no longer in effect. Cooperatives have set, since last year, the maximum ticket price at 70,000 ariary and the minimum at 60,000 ariary for peak season. Our mission is to monitor fare compliance. It must not exceed the maximum price of 70,000 ariary," explained Zézé Michèle Genatrita Razafinandrasana, director of the Land Transport Agency (ATT) in Mahajanga, yesterday.
Some private companies, such as Cotisse, apply their own pricing structure. Since December 2025, the Lite or economy class ticket is set at 65,000 ariary on the Mahajanga-Antananarivo route. Premium service is offered at 90,000 ariary, while VIP seats cost 125,000 ariary. Malagasy Transport first class (TPC), meanwhile, has maintained ticket prices at 117,000 ariary on the Mahajanga-Tana route, with breakfast included.
In total, thirty-three vehicles carrying 561 passengers arrived at Aranta last Sunday. On average, about twenty minibuses are recorded arriving each day. Most tourists come from the capital and other regions by minibus or rental car, such as Sprinter buses, or by plane for those coming from Mayotte or the Comoros.
"We chose to travel by rental bus from Tana. Getting to the beach at Amborovy is very difficult without a vehicle. We are also numerous, with dozens of grandchildren and young people. This is cost-effective for our group. Beach outings and swimming are very important. Mahajanga's warm climate is a real attraction compared to the capital's winter temperatures," said a father of a family.