Taxi scams top concern among Western tourists in Thailand

By Hoang Phong February 1, 2023 | 11:20 pm PT

Taxi drivers wait for customers in Bangkok, Thailand, May 29, 2021. Photo by Reuters

Overpriced taxi services have become the main issue of concern among foreign tourists while traveling in Thailand, followed by entry procedures, littering and air pollution, a survey shows.

Taxi services in Thailand received the worst score of 3.5 out of 5, according to the survey conducted by the Tourism Council of Thailand, which polled 200 Western tourists during the final quarter of last year.

Foreign tourists complained that taxi drivers in Thailand often only pick up passengers who agree to pay a fare without using the meter, which means drivers can arbitrarily charge higher prices for their service, the Bangkok Post reported.

In addition to taxi scams, the complicated entry process at Thailand’s airports upon arrival is also a major concern for foreign tourists, receiving a score of 3.45.

The problem of littering at many popular tourist sites and air pollution from hazardous fine particulate matter (PM2.5) also received complaints from tourists.

Thailand, Southeast Asia's second largest economy, received 11 million foreign visitors last year thanks to its open visa policy, making its tourism industry among the fastest to recover in the region following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Thai government is targeting 25 million foreign arrivals this year.