THE recent adoption of a code of ethics by the taxis association is a most progressive step that could contribute significantly to improving the quality of service being provided by taxi operators. Service-oriented businesses have to ensure customer satisfaction because in the modern world, competition is the name of the game and those who fail to provide high quality service will simply be washed away by the competitive tide and thrown out of business.
The general discipline and orderliness that the code of ethics could bring to the taxi service is vital from the standpoint of Guyana’s growing tourism industry.
Taxi services are crucial and could be a major determinant factor in attracting tourists here.
Tourists will not accept lousy service because many of them make tremendous sacrifices to save money for their vacation and therefore will demand quality service for their hard-earned cash.
The importance of high quality taxi services to the tourism sector is being increasingly recognised throughout the world.
The Indian national newspaper, ‘The Hindu’, recently reported that the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department and the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation will soon embark on a year-long programme to sensitise auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers on the importance of tourism promotion and mould them as effective tourism ambassadors.
The San Pedro Sun of Belize also reported recently: “Tourists arriving on our shores, whether via boat or airplane, are often greeted by taxi drivers who are willing, ready and able to drive them to their pertinent destinations. As such, cab drivers are at the forefront of the tourism industry…”
Because of this, the Belize Tourism Industry Association, the Belize Tourism Board and private businesses banded together and secured a facilitator and conference room for a three-day training course for cab drivers, 85 of whom signed up for the programme.
Facilitator Deon Chamberlain Miranda, from the Belize Youth Business Trust, highlighted many key points that prove beneficial for drivers. Some of the points discussed were the importance of public relations, responsibilities with the company employer, and dealing with irate customers.   
In Guyana, the importance of taxi services to tourism was emphasised when the code of ethics was adopted and this shows that those who are managing the tourism sector have their fingers on the correct buttons.
Now that a code of ethics has been established for taxi operators, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce should move swiftly to introduce a similar protocol for all service-oriented businesses, particularly the mini-bus service. The chaos, recklessness and lawlessness that characterise the latter are well-known and this travesty needs to be stopped.
Apart from the inconvenience and discomfort to the local commuters, the officials must consider that increasingly tourists are using buses too, sometimes just for the fun and adventure of it.
And if they are greeted with the customary foul language, unkempt drivers and conductors, loud and vulgar music, etc, they will certainly paint a negative picture of this country and discourage their friends and relatives back home from visiting here.
So all the players who contributed to the successful adoption of the code of ethics for taxi services should be commended because it is a significant step forward, but very importantly, this should be spread across the entire service sector.