Under the impact of the development of the times, traditional tuk-tuks are no longer popular with the public, and the market is constantly shrinking. The Indian tricycles severely impact Cambodia’s traditional tuk-tuk market. Some drivers choose to retire to the suburbs to mainly carry goods and occasionally tourists. Facing elimination, it is becoming more and more difficult for traditional tuk-tuk practitioners.
In the previous two decades (the 2000s to 2010s) large red tuk-tuks with large models in Cambodia can be seen all over the streets. At that time, such tuk-tuks were very popular with the public. Then passenger motorcycles also followed the trend and spent a lot of money to convert the vehicles into big tuk-tuks. to solicit customers. The traditional big tuk-tuk has certain advantages. It can carry five or six people at a time. It is the preferred means of transportation for a family member in Cambodia.
At the same time, it also provides convenience and a unique experience for Cambodian tourists to travel and travel.
However, the emergence of tricycles (small tuk tuk) in India in recent years has had a serious impact on the traditional big tuk tuk. The body is smaller and more flexible, making it easier to traverse the road, energy-saving natural gas replaces gasoline, and the more cost-effective Indian tricycles have attracted many young drivers, and the big tuk-tuks that used to run all over the street have been replaced.
With the development of the social economy and technology, especially the widespread use of the Internet in daily life, online car-hailing has emerged, and the number has increased sharply in recent years. According to statistics, the number of tricycles imported from India in Cambodia is about 100,000, of which 80,000 are in Phnom Penh. This has had a serious impact on the traditional tuk-tuk market. Due to the shrinking market space and the crisis of social elimination, it is becoming more and more difficult for some traditional tuk-tuk practitioners. 100,000 Indian tuk-tuks flooded into the market, and Cambodia’s traditional tuk-tuks were severely impacted!
According to the Independent Democracy Organization of the Cambodia Informal Economy Association, pointed out that the number of tricycles in India, coupled with the advantage of having an app for taxis, is increasing. Currently, there are 80,000 in Phnom Penh alone and about 100,000 in the country. With the application of the Internet in daily life, online car-hailing companies have gradually entered Cambodia. The vast majority of people have become accustomed to using, safety, clearly marked prices, and other factors to travel by Indian tricycles through taxi-hailing software, and even some people who own cars are also due to traffic jams and other reasons. Also, choose to ride an Indian tricycle.
One of the traditional tuk tuk drivers, who used to refit traditional tuk-tuks, said that from 2006 to 2015, there were 20 to 30 tuk-tuks that could be installed every day, and the production tools and installation costs were about US$3,000. There are fewer and fewer customers for Dudu. After all, Indian tricycles do not need to be installed, and they can carry passengers directly by purchasing them. “Even before the epidemic, I stopped doing tuk-tuk installation work because there were no customers. A large number of Indian tricycles have entered Cambodia, and there is no market for a traditional tuk-tuk”, he said.
He added that Cambodia’s traditional tuk-tuks have all but disappeared, with only some delivering goods in the suburbs or a few insisting on carrying passengers. The elimination of traditional tuk-tuk is because Indian tricycles can be ordered directly through the app and use natural gas. In addition to the occasional group travel of some families, traditional tuk-tuks are at a disadvantage in terms of people’s daily travel choices. But for tourists, traditional Cambodian tuk-tuks are still more popular than Indian tricycles, and traditional tuk-tuks still carry passengers in some tourist provinces.
Another traditional tuk-tuk driver who has been in the business for 8 years, said he did not run an Indian tricycle like his peers, but instead carried goods and tourists. Although it is difficult during the epidemic, there are Vietnamese tourists almost every day. They like the tuk-tuk with more space, which is convenient for viewing the scenery of Phnom Penh, and even carrying things while they are shopping. He said that there are relatively few tourists now. He waits for guests in front of the hotel and needs to take turns with other peers. There are guests only for two or three days. He can get 5 to 6 US dollars for each short trip. If he takes tourists to the ancient temple to play, you can get $15 to $18 a day.
Traditional tuk-tuks are popular with tourists, so many tuk-tuk drivers will post personal information on travel websites or Facebook to attract guests and increase their income. For some older traditional tuk-tuk drivers, although they can’t keep up with the pace of the Internet era, and their income is pitiful due to the impact of the epidemic, they still stick to the industry and wait for tourists to return.
