Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Kg Ayer Water Taxi Operators Need To Offer Better Service
By Syazwan Sadikin

Bandar Seri Begawan - Locals and tourists are looking for better services from water taxis operating in Brunei's famed Kg Ayer. Some passengers interviewed by The Brunei Times yesterday voiced out dissatisfaction with the quality of service provided by the operators.

Among that was highlighted was the need for better safety precautions, such as reducing the speed of the water taxi, especially during the peak hours of traffic as the river tends to get crowded.

Amanda Yong, a Singaporean tourist, described her trip on the water taxi as harrowing, especially as the boat would occasionally make small leaps during high speeds while hitting the waves.

She added that the water boats in Singapore would run slow and smooth, making her feel safe.

However, she admitted that her first experience with water taxis were terrifying for a 14-year-old.

"The boats go really fast here," said the Singaporean tourist.

"Safety of water taxis? I have no idea, never thought of it really," said Md Esham, a local resident who commutes to Kg Ayer regularly.

He added that authorities should come up with a better queuing system at the Yayasan or signages along the jetty to better inform tourists who want to take a ride on the water taxi.

"They already have a tourist water taxi with roofs everywhere, but its knowing which is legitimate or convenient, because they would just call them out and there isn't really a booth for them to wait," he said.

Tourists should also be more informed about the price rates of using the water taxi to take a tour of Kg Ayer, said Nuralia, a local resident.

"Only tourists who have contact with travel agents or something might have the numbers of legitimate licensed water taxis but those who just walk around might not know whether paying $60 per hour is right or not," she said.

"I've seen tourists walking around the jetty at Yayasan and all these water taxi drivers were just shouting at them to come on their boats to take them around Kg Ayer," said Rashid Ali, a local Bandar Seri Begawan resident.

He added: "If they get on the wrong boat with a dishonest driver, tourists could be charged too much. When this happens, words get out and it's bad for us."

An Australian tourist noted that while passing through Port View restaurant, some water taxi drivers were calling out to him repeatedly and rudely. He has also experienced water taxi drivers who keep pestering tourists to take a ride on their water taxi even after they were rejected.

"I was not aware that such things exist, but since its once in a lifetime experience, I don't mind paying so much to see the sights and sounds of the water village," said the Australian tourist. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times