Khon Kaen boosts training for taxi drivers, key players on the tourism front

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Khon Kaen boosts training for taxi drivers, key players on the tourism front

Pornpun Seekapha

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Several organisations have joined forces to train cabdrivers in Khon Kaen, believing that taxi drivers are crucial to the northeastern city's image in the eyes of tourists.

The training covers basic legal knowledge, practical techniques, foreign-language skills and being service-minded.

Taxi drivers, for instance, will be given a manual on key English words and phrases.

"We want to inculcate a service mind in the taxi drivers. We also want to equip them with techniques that can deliver customer satisfaction," Kanok Siripanichakorn of the Khon Kaen Land Transport Office said at the launch of the "Taxi Khonkaen" project.

Transportation and Logistics Development Institute director Phuwadit Wirapanyawat led the training.

He said Khon Kaen is a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions) city that has attracted people from various countries.

"Taxi services are one of the very first contacts the visitors will have with Khon Kaen," Phuwadit said. If taxi services were impressive, they could give a boost to Khon Kaen's tourism.

"When tourism here is bustling, taxi drivers are bound to enjoy better income," he added.

Khemchart Somjaiwong, vice president of the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce and chairman of Khon Kaen Tourism Association, said the training project would pave way for taxi drivers to prepare themselves for the upcoming Asean Economic Community.

"If taxi drivers can communicate in foreign languages, foreigners will be impressed," he said.

The Federation of Thai Industries' Khon Kaen chapter has joined hands with the Khon Kaen Land Transport Office and the ID Driver Institute in conducting the training.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Khon-Kaen-boosts-training-for-taxi-drivers-key-pla-30242743.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-08

[thaidel48]

Does the course include a class on " How to switch on your meter" ?

[Rykbanlor]

This is the second article I have read this morning that used the word 'Inculcate'. Never rains but it pours.

KOn kaen is a MICE city. Yeah, i heard its really MICE this time of year. Ok, I gotta go meow.

[hansnl]

There are, now, far too many taxi's in Khon Kaen.

Last week I saw a taxi with the number 324.......

In a town with maybe 200,000+ inhabitants.

Too many taxi's will automatically mean, due to not enough business, the drivers will try not to switch on the meter.

Try to get a taxi in the airport, ask for using the meter, not one will agree on a metered ride.

Solution?

Call the office, ask for a taxi.

Good chance the taxi assigned to you will come out of the row to pick you up.

And must use the meter because the office will register the ride..

Time for the LTO to get realistic, kicking up additional parts of the taxi-service and leaving the basic metering alone is quite silly.

Edited September 8, 2014 by hansnl

[rotary]

In my humble opinion KK has some of the worst drivers in Thailand and a big traffic problem. This will interesting to see how they train these taxi drivers.

[keestha]

Several organisations have joined forces to train cabdrivers in Khon Kaen, believing that taxi drivers are crucial to the northeastern city's image in the eyes of tourists.

Any Isaan province has a few attractions to offer, but I never realized tourism had any importance in Khon Kaen economy.

[PREM-R]

Several organisations have joined forces to train cabdrivers in Khon Kaen, believing that taxi drivers are crucial to the northeastern city's image in the eyes of tourists.

Any Isaan province has a few attractions to offer, but I never realized tourism had any importance in Khon Kaen economy.

Quote OP "He said Khon Kaen is a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions) city that has attracted people from various countries."

[waynethor]

"Taxi drivers, for instance, will be given a manual on key English words and phrases."

So if a taxi driver can learn to say some key words and phrases but not understand anything that's said back to them, isn't that even worse? It's sort of like giving false promise and LURING the tourist into believing that he or she will actually be able to communicate with the driver in English when that's not true.

"If taxi drivers can communicate in foreign languages, foreigners will be impressed,"

Yes, they will, but learning to phonetically say some words and phrases isn't the same.

[hansnl]

Several organisations have joined forces to train cabdrivers in Khon Kaen, believing that taxi drivers are crucial to the northeastern city's image in the eyes of tourists.

Any Isaan province has a few attractions to offer, but I never realized tourism had any importance in Khon Kaen economy.

Be ready to be surprised.

Look around, if you are in Khon Kaen.

[lee b]

I have still not been to Khon Kaen yet, Is there alot to do and see for tourists as its not really one of the destinations that you hear about. I would like to add it to the list of places ive been to though.

[JLCrab]

Wikipedia: MICE = Meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE, with the “E” sometimes referring to events and the “C” sometimes referring to conventions)

The big Khon Kaen hotels have meeting and small conferences on a near daily basis with both Thais and non-Thai speaking persons in attendance. I don't think they were referring to tourist like the beaches in Pattaya or Pukhet. The one big tourist attraction for Thais at least is the 9-story Wat Weang on the SW shore of Lake Bung Kanakhorn where you might see tens of tour buses parked. Non-Thai tourists in Khon Kaen are often those spending a day or so before heading on to Laos / Luang Prabang either as individuals or those making a stop on tour buses for the evening.

Edited September 8, 2014 by JLCrab

[upena]

If you do visit Khon Kaen, do not get a Rajah taxi. Get the Khon Kaen taxi. Rajah doesn't like to use the meter.

[chrisbacke]

FWIW, we've had very little issue with taxis around Khon Kaen, save the two older bus terminals. If you're arriving at terminal #3 (the new one several kilometers out of town), you'll pay a 40 baht fee on top of the metered fare, but that applies to everyone.

I'd hesitate to say 'Khon Kaen' and 'tourism' in the same sentence - partially because we don't see them and partially because there's very little infrastructure set up to assist them. Most likely the MICE events are bringing in people that would be seeking a taxi to take them around town.

[nahkit]

FWIW, we've had very little issue with taxis around Khon Kaen, save the two older bus terminals. If you're arriving at terminal #3 (the new one several kilometers out of town), you'll pay a 40 baht fee on top of the metered fare, but that applies to everyone.

I'd hesitate to say 'Khon Kaen' and 'tourism' in the same sentence - partially because we don't see them and partially because there's very little infrastructure set up to assist them. Most likely the MICE events are bringing in people that would be seeking a taxi to take them around town.

A 40 baht surcharge isn't too bad. I live about 3kms south of the new bus terminal and the last time we ordered a taxi they wanted 150 baht on top of the meter charge. Haven't used them since then.