A new agreement between the taxi drivers association and the Tourism Department promises to standardize taxi fares charged to tourists and to reduce price gouging. Under the agreement, a tourist arriving at an airport or other point of entry can check the official taxi fares and avoid being overcharged by drivers who might ask for more than the set rate.
The vice president of the Caribe Taxi Association, Manuel Agramonte, says the agreement is a step towards improving the image of the DR. “Before, because of the disorganization, the country’s image as a tourist destination was very damaged, but we have overcome that problem thanks to the efforts of the tourism authorities and the tourism transportation network.” He says the Tourism Department has approved the new fares and they will apply across the country. (17 October 2001)
