Latest news with #surcharge
Independent Singapore
2 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
S$5 taxi surcharge to be applied for pick-ups at Banyan Tree Resort, Mandai
SINGAPORE: On Monday (Jun 9), ComfortDelGro (CDG) announced that a surcharge of S$5 will be applied for all trips from the Banyan Tree Resort at 60 Mandai Lake Road beginning from June 16. However, the additional charge is only applicable daily between 1:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m., CDG added, noting that this should be taken into consideration when accepting or planning trips to the Banyan Tree Resort. Last July, the surcharge for pick-ups at the Singapore Zoo, River Wonders, Night Safari, and Bird Paradise at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, as well as trips between 1:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. every day, increased from S$3 to S$5. 'Location surcharges are determined in consultation with premise owners. Operators lodge surcharges or changes with the Public Transport Council (PTC) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) upon receiving the requests from the premise owners. This mechanism aims to increase the supply of taxis at underserved areas by incentivising drivers,' CDG noted. FB screengrab/ ComfortdelGro STRIDES Premier also announced the permanent S$5 surcharge for Banyan Tree Resort pick-ups on its Facebook account on Monday, adding, 'We appreciate your continued support as we strive to serve you better.' FB screengrab/ STRIDES Premier The surcharge is meant to encourage more cabbies to make trips to the somewhat remote resort and attractions at Mandai, Lianhe Zaobao reported Prime Taxi as saying. While the surcharge will not be applied to private-hire cars, if customers book rides on a standard taxi via a ride-hailing platform, the surcharge will be imposed. Last July, location surcharges at Changi Airport and Mandai Wildlife Reserve were made permanent, Strides Premier and CDG said at the time. These charges began in May 2022 and have resulted in taxi trips from Changi Airport, Changi Airfreight Centre, Airport Police Station, and the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore incurring an extra S$8 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. every day, and an additional S$6 at all other times. Before May 2022, the surcharge was S$5 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., and S$3 at all other times. The surcharge was only meant to be temporary at the time. It was implemented when taxi drivers were hesitant to pick up passengers at the airport, despite an increase in people coming to Singapore as travel restrictions were being eased. It had also been a time of surging fuel prices, and cabbies preferred to pick up fares at the Central Business District, which was more cost-effective for them. /TISG Read related: Not a real solution: Extra $3 surcharge for taxis at Changi Airport not enough for petrol costs plus long wait times
E&E News
6 days ago
- Politics
- E&E News
Trump proposes fee hike for foreign visitors to national parks
Tourists to the United States could face higher costs to visit national parks under a proposal from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump's recent budget proposal for the National Park Service would introduce a surcharge on visitors from other countries. The proposal doesn't detail how much the surcharge would be, but the administration's budget summary estimates it could raise $90 million 'to keep national parks beautiful.' The proposal is part of a much larger budget plan advanced by Trump's Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and detailed in recently released documents, that would cut federal funding for national parks by roughly $1 billion. The budget also recommends transferring some national parks to state management to save costs and redirecting funds for conservation toward maintenance. Advertisement Burgum has argued that parks can be made more efficient by the reductions, while park advocates warn that parks are already understaffed and under-resourced amid record levels of tourism.
ABC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Why our coffee can cost more on a weekend than during the week
Have you ever looked at your cafe bill on a weekend and wondered why your coffee is more expensive than it was midweek? Many of us will have paid Sunday and public holiday surcharges before, but they're becoming more common on your average weekend. Extra charges can be frustrating — especially if there's no clear explanation around them or the service doesn't stack up. We asked industry experts why businesses are using surcharges more frequently, and how they are calculated. Under consumer law, businesses are allowed to impose a surcharge if they're facing elevated costs on that particular day. Sean Edwards, managing director of Cafe Culture Magazine, points out that costs have gone up in many areas of the hospitality sector. "We've seen everything go up, from wage costs to superannuation to workers compensation, which adds … nearly 20 to 30 per cent on top of the payroll," says Mr Edwards, based at Port Macquarie/Birpai land on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast. "Then things like electricity have gone up, [wholesale] coffee's tripled in price over the last 12 months. Chris Tate is the operations manager of a coffee-roasting business in North Ryde, New South Wales, on the traditional lands of the Wallumedegal people. He says wages often equate to 35 to 40 per cent of total costs and those costs spike on weekends due to penalty rates. "The surcharge is how venues can honour those award wages without cutting hours, lowering quality, or closing on weekends," he says. "It's a direct link between customers wanting a weekend coffee and making sure the person behind the machine is paid properly." Weekend surcharges aren't about boosting profits, they're helping cafes survive, Mr Tate says. "There's no strict percentage cap on weekend surcharges," he explains, but customers shouldn't be surprised when they go to pay. He adds that charging fairly and communicating that to customers is key. While state or territory regulations on the way surcharges must be displayed may differ slightly, under Australian Consumer Law, businesses must: That means displaying it on printed menus, digital ordering pages, or signage and making sure it's easy to read. "Anything misleading could breach ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) guidelines," says Mr Tate, "so clarity is key". "Most customers are understanding when you communicate openly and respectfully." Mr Edwards believes it would be rare that a cafe is price gouging. "I think at the moment everyone's in a tight spot," he says. "There's a lot of real costs, and I think people have just got to relate it back to their own lifestyle and their own house and the cost they're feeling as well. Mr Tate says the surcharge only works when it's paired with a great experience. "If a customer is paying a little more … they should get more in return such as better service, delicious coffee, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere." Customers who believe they've been hit with undisclosed surcharges can make a complaint with their local fair trading or consumer affairs agency.
