Taxis for Foreign Visitors Lack Promotions
This is first in a two-part series about international taxis for foreigners in Seoul. ― ED.
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Colored orange, international taxis are becoming the new transportation tool for foreigners in Seoul, whether they are tourists, on business or living here.
However, the international taxis cannot attract enough passengers at airports, one of their main sources of income, and are demanding the city administration support a stable working environment.
The international taxi service was established in May 2009 with 120 vehicles and the service has now expanded to 265 cars with more than 470 drivers. Seoul City plans to raise the number of vehicles to 500 by November in preparation for the G-20 summit. As of December 2009, some 25,000 expatriates have taken international taxis.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the international taxi service is part of an upgrade to Seoul City to see it reborn as a popular tourist attraction. Boosting tourism and attracting more visitors is one of mayor Oh's objectives since he was inaugurated in 2006.
"I hope foreigners who arrive at the airport take the international taxi and remember Seoul as a kind and pleasant city," Oh said in his blog.
Basically, the taxis provide an upgraded service for foreigners with English, Japanese or Chinese-speaking drivers and a reservation system.
The taxi has three kinds of fare systems ― a flat fare system for those who are coming from and going to Incheon International Airport, a meter system with 20 percent extra charged compared to ordinary taxis if a reservation has been made and a charter fare system based on hours of engagement. When not reserved, they operate as ordinary taxis and use the basic fare system.
According to a Seoul survey on the satisfaction of the taxi service in the second half of 2009, international taxis scored 68 points out of 100, which is 8 points higher than that of ordinary taxis at 60 points. When monitoring expatriates' satisfaction, international taxis were awarded 80 points, while ordinary taxi received 66 points.
The city interpreted it as a sign of improvement to the taxi service for foreigners and the international taxi's contribution to it.
However, the drivers of international taxis demand more differentiation from ordinary taxis.
Some 77 percent of passengers for the international taxis come from the airport. Though there is an information desk just for international taxis inside the airport, there is no waiting area for them outside.
"When we receive reservations on the spot, we try to arrange one within one hour, but it doesn't work sometimes," a city official said. "As taxi drivers have to pay a toll to get to the airport at their own expense and do not have an allocated space, it is difficult for them to wait at the airport."
The drivers have requested reforming the infrastructure of taxi stands at the airport to provide a better service to expatriates.
"Foreign visitors prefer international taxis, if they know about the system as it is trustworthy and administered by the city government. However, many of them still haven't heard about the service," an international taxi driver said. "For instance, it costs about 75,000 won to get to Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel in eastern Seoul from Incheon International Airport by an international taxi based on a flat fare system. However, the fare jumps up to 200,000 won when they take ordinary taxis or call vans attracted by pullers-in who rip off tourists."
If international taxis cannot establish themselves at the airport with enough promotion and proper facilities, overcharging foreigners and spoiling the image of Korea will continue, the driver said.
Drivers of international taxis have to pass tests and interviews conducted in selected languages. The former career of international taxi drivers vary from English teachers to chauffeurs of business executives.
Some of them are eager to be private ambassadors of Korean tourism and voluntarily guide their passengers or recommend tourist attractions.