Garlic munchers set for Olympics ban
BEIJING: Foul-smelling taxis will be outlawed in the lead up to the 2008 Summer Olympics.
And female taxi drivers have been told that they should not die their hair bright red or yellow – and they should forget the chunky earrings.
Inspectors will do “smell” tests to make sure only the sweetest smelling taxis shuttle overseas guests between Olympic venues, airport and hotels.
Beijing city administrators want to smarten up the cab industry before the Games begin.
Yao Kuo, vice director of the Beijing municipal transport management bureau, said it had devised a 12-item evaluation chart for taxi services, the Beijing News said.
Cab drivers should not smoke while driving, overcharge, spit or litter. They are asked to dress in neat, clean clothes and to be friendly and polite.
Drivers who repeatedly fail to use meters or refuse to pick up passengers will lose their licences.
“Some drivers don’t care about their appearance and this has a negative impact on the whole industry,” Yao was quoted as saying, adding that some drivers didn’t brush their teeth after eating garlic.
“Female drivers must not wear big, chunky earrings or dye their hair odd colours like bright red or yellow, and male drivers should not wear their hair long,” said Yao.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026