• OPINION

  Ride-hailing needs practical rules

  Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 07/10/2019

  » I do not own a car. In fact, I don't even drive, so I rely totally on public transport -- buses, taxis, motorcycle taxis (if needed) and mass-transit trains -- to commute around Bangkok. I rarely use ride-hailing apps, although many of my friends find the service more convenient than regular taxis and they like the promotions.

• OPINION

  Taxi Timeline

  Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 11/06/2021

  » Taxi service in Thailand is about to enter a new drive after the Cabinet recently approved a draft regulation to allow the use of private cars for transport apps. The draft by the Ministry of Transport is expected to be put to use this month or within July. When enacted, vehicles with up to seven seats that are registered as personal cars can double as taxis via the apps.

• OPINION

  Politics is sport for Newin

  News, Published on 08/09/2018

  » Newin Chidchob, a veteran politician who has turned his focus to football and motorsport in the northeastern province of Buri Ram, has made headlines again as the regime is expected to ease its ban on political activities some time this month.

• OPINION

  The real reason Grab is winning: service

  Life, Yvonne Bohwongprasert, Published on 01/07/2019

  » Taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers in the capital were once again up in arms last week when they heard that their arch-rival Grab Thailand, the local operating arm of the Singapore-based start-up hailing service app, might be getting the green light by the government to operate legally.

• OPINION

  The way to ride-hail

  News, Postbag, Published on 26/06/2019

  » Re: "Turn taxis around", (Editorial, June 25).

• OPINION

  Lessons from Uber's bumpy ride

  News, Robert Boxwell, Published on 25/08/2016

  » A warning from a travel guide has stayed with me since I started working in Asia 25 years ago. Don't ever get in a fight in Thailand, where kickboxing is the national sport, the author advised, because locals jumping into the fray don't care who's right, they care who's Thai. I've often thought that a white-collar version of that advice would be good for westerners thinking about doing business in mainland China.

• OPINION

  Do gig workers deserve better deal?

  News, Published on 23/02/2021

  » It is common to see uniformed riders delivering food around Bangkok. People have also become accustomed to using ride-hailing apps instead of traditional taxis. Following the coronavirus outbreak, the demand for ride-hailing plunged during the lockdowns, before rising again as social restrictions were eased. On the other hand, demand for food delivery services continued to surge as more people dined at home. Queues outside restaurants, that were once crammed with customers, have been replaced by large groups of colourful platform delivery couriers.

• OPINION

  Thailand is no longer a beach party for investors

  News, Shuli Ren, Published on 21/11/2018

  » Bangkok may be among the world's top 10 tourism destinations, but for overseas investors it's about as popular as a beach holiday in the Arctic.

• OPINION

  Ride-hailing services aren't the enemy

  News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 09/03/2017

  » As the government boasts about Thailand moving toward 4.0, I sometimes think that what we are really close to is "Thailand 44", given the fact that officials rely so much on the draconian Section 44 as a cure-all for many of the problems we are facing.

• OPINION

  Hailing ride to better urban mobility

  News, Published on 28/03/2018

  » The emergence of ride-hailing firms such as Uber and Grab, which recently merged their services in Southeast Asia, has received mixed responses. With the use of smartphone apps to connect commuters with drivers, this service, said to be a disruptive innovation to the existing point-to-point transport industry, has enjoyed consumer support due to its convenience and other benefits.

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