PATTAYA, Thailand – Motorcycle taxi drivers in Pattaya say the switch from orange to blue vests has affected their livelihoods, with some tourists struggling to recognize the newly uniformed drivers and passenger numbers falling. The change was introduced under an organization program in Banglamung district, Chonburi, to give motorcycle taxi services a new image in the tourist city.
Somphong, 51, a motorcycle taxi driver, said the darker blue vests were less noticeable than the familiar orange ones. Local residents and foreign tourists were still getting used to the new color, leaving some passengers unsure whether the drivers were authorized motorcycle taxi operators.
She said the confusion had contributed to fewer passengers recently, although she believed the situation could improve once people became familiar with the new vests. However, she noted that drivers also faced growing competition from app-based ride-hailing services, particularly Bolt, where the number of service providers had increased.
Another driver, Wisit, 50, said the change had affected his work to some extent, but drivers had to follow the guidelines set by government agencies. He also reported fewer passengers, partly due to competition from ride-hailing applications. The comments highlight the adjustment facing Pattaya’s motorcycle taxi drivers as the city transitions to the new blue-vest system, with visibility, public recognition and app-based competition all affecting their daily earnings.
