Aggressive taxis driving the tourists away

Sir,
It looks like the taxi drivers are getting even more aggressive.

Despite a large sign by the airport taxi rank, numerous articles in the free press and also a CTO pamphlet, all stating that taxi-meters must be used, they still refuse to do so.

I recently tried to take a taxi from the airport and was told that all airport fares are “fixed-rate”. For “fixed-rate” read double the appropriate meter charge! They refused to take me unless I paid up.

I later checked with the CTO, who were fully aware of this overcharging and a lady in the office said that it applied to Cypriots as well as tourists.

How can Cyprus retain and win new visitors when this blatant profiteering goes unchallenged?

I also note that airport duties are due to rise significantly. Why is Cyprus shooting itself in the foot when compared to its competitors?
I have been visiting Cyprus for many years, often several times per year.

This is the last straw, and Cyprus will no longer benefit from my hard earned money. I will not be visiting again and I will strongly recommend that my friends and colleagues also think twice before visiting.

Name and address supplied

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.