A Norwegian tourist has complained about Chiang Mai taxi drivers taking advantage of foreign visitors and tarnishing the city's image.

In a letter addressed to the Tourist Police and The Nation, Leif E Holterud said he visited Chiang Mai and stayed at the BP Chiang Mai City Hotel in Muang district.

On January 28, while on a taxi ride to the Immigration Office, he was told that the fare would be Bt300 (S$12.5) and that he would not be charged by the metre. On February 3, he hailed a taxi from Robinson Airport Mall to his hotel, but was told the price was Bt120 (S$5).

He told the taxi driver to use the metre but was told that taxis in Chiang Mai only charged a lump sum amount. Holterud compared this behaviour to that of London taxi drivers who are well-trained and deliver a fair service to passengers, and urged Chiang Mai to solve this issue so as to maintain its image.

Chiang Mai Transport Office director Nanthapong Cherdchu said taxis charged Bt40 (S$1.7) for the first two kilometres and Bt5 (S$0.2) per km beyond that. However, since the number of passengers was not as many as in Bangkok and petrol prices were rising, taxi drivers there charged a lump sum amount agreed upon with the passengers - which wasn't a violation of regulation.

He admitted to getting complaints and sounded sympathetic to both sides. He suggested that passengers agree on a fare with taxi drivers beforehand and use other means of transport if the price quoted is too high. Thanking the tourist for his suggestion to improve the Chiang Mai transport system, he said he would ask for cooperation from cabbies.

Nakhon Lanna Public Transport Coop chairman Singkham Nanti said the city's 235 metre taxis provided two services. First, customers could call for a taxi and it would be sent for a surcharge of Bt50 over and above the meter reading. Second, customers could hail a taxi and pay Bt150 (S$6.3) for travelling within the city's ring road, but for farther destinations the price would be charged as appropriate.

He said this was because of rising petrol prices and that fewer customers meant the taxi had to return without a paying passenger. He said they would set the rate at Bt40 for the first kilometre and Bt5 per km beyond that. If approved, all Chiang Mai taxis will be willing to use their meter.

-The Nation/Asia News Network