Posted by
wetbenang
at
Thursday, August 24, 2006
LURING TOURISTS, THE MALAYSIAN WAY...
Malaysian taxi drivers and operators yesterday received the most useful of advice on how to contribute towards making the country a tourist destination of choice.
They have been told to be courteous, communicate effectively, ensure their passengers enjoy the ride, keep their taxis clean and tidy, and send their vehicles for regular service. In essence, treat their foreign passengers like gold.
This way, when the tourists go back to their own countries, they would remember the good service provided by Malaysian taxi drivers, and would spread the word to their friends who would come to Malaysia in droves.
This sound advice came from no less than the Prime Minister -- himself a true Malaysian gentleman (from what I read) -- as reported by the New Straits Times.
It wasn't made very clear in the report, but I would assume that the PM did not mean the reformed Malaysian taxi drivers would be the attraction of the country, and that the potential new tourists would come all the way to Malaysia just to sample the hospitality and courtesy of our taxi drivers.
The same message was preached by the Tourism Minister not too long ago, only he included those in the service and retail industries as well.
Puhleeeez!!!
I don't know about you, but the advice makes me woosy in the stomach. It seems it's always the foreigners that we have to be nice and courteous to. Forget about the local folks.
Taxi drivers can continue cheating and overcharging us, or refusing us their service altogether, but they have to be nice to tourists. And hotel receptionists, waiters and shop assistants can go on and layan these foreigners like they were kings, but continue to be rude and indifferent to their local customers.
So what we have is the perpetual double service standards. Tourists and foreigners, no matter how poor or how little they actually spend in the country, get the best of service.
Local Malaysians, who are the real potential repeat passengers and customers, always get the crappy end of the deal.
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