A Thai radio station is launching a special show to help taxi drivers learn English, reports The Bangkok Post.

FM91 – the city’s traffic and safety station –  will teach drivers the use of simple sentences on travel routes, tourist spots and fares to communicate with foreign tourists.

The three-time daily segment will be trialled for three months.

Bangkok has often been criticised by foreign tourists because cabbies often lack the most basic English skills, compared to other international Asian cities.

Nakhon Silpa-archa, head of the Labour Ministry’s Skill Development Department told the paper the issue has become more urgent as the South-East Asian nations prepare for the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community next year.

It’s hoped through the tie up with Sukhothaithammatirat Open University will help drivers pick up the skills to provide a better service to foreign tourists, boost their own income and promote the country’s tourism industry.

Tourism directly contributed 7.3 per cent to Thailand’s GDP in 2012 and Bangkok was the most visited city in the world in 2013, according to Time magazine.