Cheating taxi-drivers a cancer for Thailand
I have been a frequent visitor to Bangkok for the past 15 years. I have invested in condos and Thai shares. I frequent your international gem shows and your excellent restaurants. Also my praise goes to Thai Airways, and the airport waiting lounges are a
In all the years of my visits, I almost always encounter taxi-drivers trying to cheat. The most common cheat is to tell you that the meter isn’t working and then ask for an exorbitant price. Or the driver takes a much longer route. I often wonder why the Bangkok authorities and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have been so complacent for so long. Unscrupulous taxi-drivers are seriously damaging the country’s reputation. It leaves a bad taste in the mouths of foreign visitors. Of late, your police have been doing a good job by towing away illegally parked cars. Why is there no will nor effort to stop the bad taxis?
May I suggest that police posts be set up at popular tourist locations so that tourists who encounter such taxi-drivers can complain and the police take action against (not bribes from) the miscreants. Proper legal action should be taken, with heavy fines and repeat offenders having their licence cancelled. Taxi-cheats are indeed a cancer in the heart of Bangkok. I hope my next visit in December will see an improvement. Will there be?
John Tan Chor-Yong
Singapore
