Army chiefs swoop on airport ‘mafia’
Thailand’s military junta will introduce a smart card system for the taxi queue at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport in a bid to end the "mafia-style operation" there.
It is hoped the changes, expected to take place within one month, will clear the airport arrivals hall of taxi touts
Military chiefs say the "mafia-style operation" allowed taxi drivers to select long-haul passengers, making it hard for short-haul passengers to get a taxi ride.
Taxi drivers, therefore, often pay under-the-table fees to mafia-style figures to ensure they get long-haul passengers.
"In addition to this, we have also received complaints about taxis leaving passengers midway, overcharging, lack of manners and involvement in illegal activities," an army chief said.
In Australia, Tourism Authority of Thailand director Australia, Numfhon Boonyawat, has thanked the Australia travel industry for its "unbending support".
She said the national tourist office would embark on a campaign to re-energise the Australian market.
Ms Boonyawat said it was "very much a case of business as usual in Thailand", following the lifting nationwide of the nighttime curfew.
"The National Council for Peace and Order is extremely aware of how important tourism is to our country and continues to both encourage and show very positive support to help the industry," she said.
Ian Jarrett
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