DOES the fact that a taxi driver returned a forgotten wallet to a tourist and received rapturous reception from the press and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), say something good about our taxi services.
That depends on who you ask?
Paphos taxi driver and father-of-three Demos Chrysanthou was awarded a special plaque in a small ceremony arranged by the CTO last Sunday. Chrysanthou’s action, according to officials, was an important act in providing visitors with a feeling of safety and security when traveling in urban taxis.
Upon receiving the award, Chrysanthou said that he was only doing his job.
But the fact that an award was given for something taxi drivers are “obliged to do” is a worrying reminder about the standards of taxi services on the island.
A representative of the CTO told the Cyprus Mail that efforts were under way to educate and improve taxi services, which he described as vital in the tourism industry of the island.
“The taxi drivers project a vital image of tourism on the island, whether that image is good or bad.
“There have been reports of taxi drivers either being rude or simply overcharging people, and we at the CTO, in conjunction with the taxi drivers’ unions, are trying to do our best to clean up that image.
“We are conducting seminars in all the major towns of the island in an effort continuously to upgrade and improve the taxi services.
“This award to Demos Chrysanthou is important because it will show to other taxi drivers around the importance of showing good will. This award was a first and important new step towards changing the image.
“This award also shows that, although there are some rotten apples, which we are currently trying to get rid of, there are good-hearted taxi drivers like Demos who has been a loyal servant for almost 23 years.”
However, a taxi driver, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Cyprus Mail that although Chrysanthou’s action was positive, there were only a handful of taxi drivers that would not have returned the wallet.
“What he did was a good deed but whether other taxi drivers will look and admire the action is something else. Maybe some, especially younger taxi drivers, will but others, and especially those who have been driving for years and have this negative attitude, I believe won’t.
“Without trying to downplay what he did, it is very rare for any taxi driver to steal what is left behind in his cab simply because the person leaving behind the item would simply call up the taxi company and report it. The company knows where the driver is at all times.”
And tourists are still getting a good deal according to the taxi driver, adding that despite falling in standards, tourists were still guaranteed a good deal when using a cab on the island.
“What is for sure is that the image of the taxi drivers does reflect on the tourists, but it’s my opinion that the majority of the tourists that come don’t deserve the taxi service they get. Let’s face it, we have good cars, they are safe inside the cars and the girls don’t have to worry when they get in the car.”
But the taxi drivers have other problems, which could become a lot worse in the near future according to some cabbies.
“The sad fact is that the quality of taxi services has gone down in recent years and that is mainly because of the authorities in charge.
“It is also a fact that our profession has become a lot more dangerous in recent years. If you look at Limassol, for example, with all the Greek Pontians and Russians there, driving around especially at night is an occupational hazard.
“I have been told by numerous colleagues of incidents of people just refusing to pay after they have been dropped off somewhere and arguments erupting. Although we are not there yet, I think that pretty soon taxi cabs will soon be forced to install windows between the drivers and the back seats.”
