Why are taxi drivers leaving Bangkok for their home villages?

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Taxi Drivers Are Leaving Bangkok Due to a Lack of Fares Caused by Covid-19 Restrictions

Out-of-work taxi drivers are departing Bangkok for their home villages because the coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted their livelihoods, leading to a significant drop in fares. This exodus is a direct consequence of Thailand's strict lockdown measures and travel restrictions, which have all but eliminated the tourist trade that typically supports the city's taxi industry. The situation has become so dire that some taxi garages are repurposing idle vehicles for subsistence farming.
Draconian Travel Rules Halt Tourism

Thailand implemented stringent measures to combat a recent surge in Covid-19 cases, including a nationwide night-time curfew. These policies, coupled with arduous entry regulations for international visitors, have caused the number of tourists, a crucial demographic for Bangkok's taxi services, to plummet to negligible levels. The lack of passenger demand has left many drivers with no income.
Lockdown Restrictions Dry Up Fares

The imposition of lockdown restrictions across Thailand has directly led to a significant decline in the availability of fares for taxi drivers. With fewer people commuting and a near absence of tourists, the daily earnings for drivers have effectively dried up. This economic hardship has forced many to seek alternative means of support or return to their rural hometowns.
Idle Vehicles Used for Subsistence Farming

The dire economic circumstances have resulted in a large number of taxis being left idle and decaying in parking lots. One company, Ratchapruk Taxi Garage, has seen most of its drivers leave Bangkok. In an effort to support these drivers, the garage has begun cultivating vegetable gardens and raising frogs on the roofs and bonnets of the abandoned vehicles. The produce and frogs are intended to help feed the unemployed drivers and staff, with any surplus planned for sale at local markets.

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Why are taxi drivers leaving Bangkok for their home villages?

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