A CRISIS meeting of tuk-tuk drivers, owners and local authorities was chaired by Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-nob yesterday.
''You have to find a way to make sure tourists are safe and happy with you,'' the governor told the large assembly at Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
The bad image that the tuk-tuk drivers had among tourists reflected on the whole tourist industry on the island, Governor Wichai said.
It was the second crisis meeting about tuk-tuks, and a third meeting will be convened once the drivers and owners have agreed on what should be done about the key issues: fares, security and safety.
Next week should see a similar series of meetings about Patong jet-skis scams continue.
Both sets of gatherings appear to indicate reforms are being genuinely sought among the two groups that trigger most tourist complaints.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, tuk-tuk prices, the rudeness of drivers and jet-ski scams are frequently given as reasons why visitors do not come back to Phuket.
Yesterday's meeting was attended by tuk-tuk owner and drivers, local police from around the island, Tourist Police, local administration representatives from Patong, Kamala, Surin, Phuket City and Kata-Karon, and representatives from theTourist Association and the TAT.
The next meeting will be scheduled by the new head of the island's Transport Department, Kanok Siripanitchakorn.
Tuk-tuks are run as separate organisations around the island. The exceptionally high fares when compared with tuk-tuk fares in Bangkok, and other tourist destinations that have proper low-cost public transport, have triggered complaints from tourists.
With efforts being made to improve service and deal with thieves and cheats at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, diplomats from several countries have also asked for tourist complaints about Phuket to be addressed.
After giving a revealing interview to Phuketwan in July, Porntep Chamkawn, the leader of the Karon Tuk-tuk Association, undertook to consider readers' responses to the article.
These were translated and forwarded to Khun Porntep. Since then, efforts appear to have been made in Karon to improve standards of service. There has even been talk of a reduction in fares.
''You have to find a way to make sure tourists are safe and happy with you,'' the governor told the large assembly at Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
The bad image that the tuk-tuk drivers had among tourists reflected on the whole tourist industry on the island, Governor Wichai said.
It was the second crisis meeting about tuk-tuks, and a third meeting will be convened once the drivers and owners have agreed on what should be done about the key issues: fares, security and safety.
Next week should see a similar series of meetings about Patong jet-skis scams continue.
Both sets of gatherings appear to indicate reforms are being genuinely sought among the two groups that trigger most tourist complaints.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, tuk-tuk prices, the rudeness of drivers and jet-ski scams are frequently given as reasons why visitors do not come back to Phuket.
Yesterday's meeting was attended by tuk-tuk owner and drivers, local police from around the island, Tourist Police, local administration representatives from Patong, Kamala, Surin, Phuket City and Kata-Karon, and representatives from theTourist Association and the TAT.
The next meeting will be scheduled by the new head of the island's Transport Department, Kanok Siripanitchakorn.
Tuk-tuks are run as separate organisations around the island. The exceptionally high fares when compared with tuk-tuk fares in Bangkok, and other tourist destinations that have proper low-cost public transport, have triggered complaints from tourists.
With efforts being made to improve service and deal with thieves and cheats at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, diplomats from several countries have also asked for tourist complaints about Phuket to be addressed.
After giving a revealing interview to Phuketwan in July, Porntep Chamkawn, the leader of the Karon Tuk-tuk Association, undertook to consider readers' responses to the article.
These were translated and forwarded to Khun Porntep. Since then, efforts appear to have been made in Karon to improve standards of service. There has even been talk of a reduction in fares.
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One word "meters" !!
They said it would never happen in Bangkok, claimed it would never work.. Now it does.
If meters were enforced, everyone would pay the same rate, and the rate would be the fair market price.
Posted by LivinLOS on October 1, 2009 08:38