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OFFICIALS will be cracking down on rogue taxi-drivers who infuriated passengers arriving on a prestigious Gulf voyage and damaged the kingdom's reputation.
A fracas broke out when the Brilliance of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International's 10-deck cruise ship docked at the Khalifa Bin Salman Port on its maiden journey after local cab drivers demanded fares of between $300 and $400 for shopping drops into Manama - and bullied rivals who guaranteed metered fares.
Dr Heba Aziz, Culture and Information Ministry Tourism Sector executive director and advisor, said: "Unfortunately, the arrival of Brilliance of the Seas has been overshadowed by this incident.
"We don't want to let any taxi driver spoil the experience of visitors. The issue is being taken up at ministerial level. Meetings with Ministry of Interiors and Municipality are scheduled."
An inquiry has also been ordered into the events by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
Richard Mathias, managing director of Mathias Tourism, said his company had been urging international cruise ship operators to add Bahrain as a tourist destination.
"Three big ships stop by our port every week - Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays," he explained. "Although we offer a shuttle service to Bab Al Bahrain and there are organised tours, some tourists want to explore Bahrain on their own.
"Problems have been created by some local taxi drivers. Tourists start bargaining them over ridiculous prices. This bargaining has to stop.
"Tourists should be provided with fixed taxi fares in five or six languages so there is no misunderstanding.
"We have to educate the taxi drivers who should look at this as a regular revenue stream and the ministry, tour operators and taxi companies have to all work together to solve this problem."
More than 2,000 guests arrived in port on Saturday with 1,000 opting for scheduled tours. Around 500 people went exploring on their own and between 50 and 60 marched back on board the liner disappointed by the behaviour of the taxi drivers. Mr Mathias said they were offered complimentary trips on buses instead.
Arabian Taxis, the popular London-style taxi operation, says it sent a fleet of 30 cars with English-speaking drivers to meet the cruise ship and was caught up in conflict with local taxis drivers and passengers who were not convinced its metered fares were genuine.
Khalid Ameen, general manager of Arabian Taxis, said: "We were hoping to give the tourists a good impression but the local taxi drivers started picking a fight with us.
"We have been facing a lot of problems from the local taxi drivers. Arguments and fights only lead to a bad reputation.
"It is very embarrassing. We are the face of the country and we have to try and boost Bahrain's tourism. Nobody benefits in this situation.
"We have had meetings with the local taxi unions before but it has not resulted in anything positive. We are given a hard time by the local taxis everywhere - shopping malls, airports and hotels.
"In the end even the tourists did not believe that we charge by the meter and that our meters had not been tampered with and were trying to bargain the prices.
"I wish the companies would educate the tourists that all our taxis charge according to the meter. We have provided a fare list to the tourism companies.
"I am also going to enforce a system whereby the meter will be triggered only when someone sits on the passenger seat."
Officials will have to make sure the weekend's embarrassment is not repeated today when the next cruise liner arrives in port.
Isa Hassani, cruise in charge at the Culture and Information Ministry Tourism Sector, said: "A problem has arisen with some of the local taxi drivers who are very greedy.
"We should not generalise because not all taxi drivers cause problems.
"The next ship arrives on Wednesday. We are working with the Ministry of Interiors and the Traffic Directorate and their officials will be in place to ensure that there will be no problem.
"There will be 60 to 70 taxis from the Arabian Taxi Company and Bahrain Limo awaiting tourists when they arrive at the port."
The authorities say they are also planning an awareness campaign to train taxi drivers in customer service and will provide an information sheet outlining the 'dos and don'ts' for first time tourists to Bahrain.
