AIRPORT officials are investigating an allegation that limo drivers on Phuket are seeking commissions after picking up tourists.
One case reported to Phuketwan by an expat resident details an undesirable attempt at extracting money of the kind that Thai officials are trying to stamp out at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.
The expat ended up being so intimidated by the actions of the driver that he would prefer to not have his real name used.
''Richard'' told Phuketwan that he and a Thai associate were presented with a ticket at the taxi/limo desk inside the airport after arriving on a flight about 7.30pm last Wednesday, September 23.
''We were not picked up at the front but had to make our way in the rain to the car,'' Richard said. ''There was no 'hello', no nothing from the driver.
''We turned right out of the airport, and almost immediately, before the left-turn to the main highway, we pulled up.
''The driver said he 'had to sign in for insurance.' I saw a couple of other expats emerging from the building and a woman came out and over to the car.
'''Which hotel are you going to?' she asked us. I told her I was a resident going home, and we went on our way.''
Richard said the driver kept on going straight towards Nai Yang, and an exchange of words followed.
It turned out that the driver was making allowances for the roadwork being done at the major t-junction, which requires motorists to turn left and drive towards Phang Nga before being able to u-turn back towards the south.
Richard said the driver tail-gated other vehicles the entire way in wet conditions, and told them he had been working since 6am that morning.
''He also pulled in for a petrol stop,'' Richard said. ''He said he only made 6000 baht a month, and that his only way to make extra was if he managed to achieve a return fare to the airport.
''By the time I got home, I was shaking. I'm a long-term resident but i haven't had a ride like that for a while. If I was a tourist, I would have been very unimpressed.''
The General Manager of Phuket Airport, Prathuang Somkhom, said there had been complaints and they were being investigated.
A brochure has been produced for Phuket tourists, highlighting the Tourist Police 24-hour telephone number: 1155.
''We would like people to call immediately and give details of the cars involved directly to the Tourist Police,'' Wing Commander Prathuang said.
An Australian couple who came through Suvarnabhumi airport this week on their way to Phuket said they were pleasantly surprised by the well-organised taxi pick-up there, and were even handed a complaints form with the booking slip.
Diplomats have complained to senior members of Thailand's government about a variety of extortion scams on tourists at Suvarnabhumi airport and rip-offs by jet-ski operators on Phuket.
One case reported to Phuketwan by an expat resident details an undesirable attempt at extracting money of the kind that Thai officials are trying to stamp out at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.
The expat ended up being so intimidated by the actions of the driver that he would prefer to not have his real name used.
''Richard'' told Phuketwan that he and a Thai associate were presented with a ticket at the taxi/limo desk inside the airport after arriving on a flight about 7.30pm last Wednesday, September 23.
''We were not picked up at the front but had to make our way in the rain to the car,'' Richard said. ''There was no 'hello', no nothing from the driver.
''We turned right out of the airport, and almost immediately, before the left-turn to the main highway, we pulled up.
''The driver said he 'had to sign in for insurance.' I saw a couple of other expats emerging from the building and a woman came out and over to the car.
'''Which hotel are you going to?' she asked us. I told her I was a resident going home, and we went on our way.''
Richard said the driver kept on going straight towards Nai Yang, and an exchange of words followed.
It turned out that the driver was making allowances for the roadwork being done at the major t-junction, which requires motorists to turn left and drive towards Phang Nga before being able to u-turn back towards the south.
Richard said the driver tail-gated other vehicles the entire way in wet conditions, and told them he had been working since 6am that morning.
''He also pulled in for a petrol stop,'' Richard said. ''He said he only made 6000 baht a month, and that his only way to make extra was if he managed to achieve a return fare to the airport.
''By the time I got home, I was shaking. I'm a long-term resident but i haven't had a ride like that for a while. If I was a tourist, I would have been very unimpressed.''
The General Manager of Phuket Airport, Prathuang Somkhom, said there had been complaints and they were being investigated.
A brochure has been produced for Phuket tourists, highlighting the Tourist Police 24-hour telephone number: 1155.
''We would like people to call immediately and give details of the cars involved directly to the Tourist Police,'' Wing Commander Prathuang said.
An Australian couple who came through Suvarnabhumi airport this week on their way to Phuket said they were pleasantly surprised by the well-organised taxi pick-up there, and were even handed a complaints form with the booking slip.
Diplomats have complained to senior members of Thailand's government about a variety of extortion scams on tourists at Suvarnabhumi airport and rip-offs by jet-ski operators on Phuket.
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The practice of stopping in at the tour companies lined along the route south from the airport has been going on for years. The authorities have known about it for years. They don't have the inclination to fix this problem.
In the past the rough figures were that the taxi driver made 70% of the available commission for stopping in with the tourists. And the tour agent made the remaining 30% of the commission. I've seen taxi drivers making 5 figures on one trip. 6,000THB/month? He must be a friend of the Karon Tuk Tuk boss who claims a Tuk Tuk costs over a million baht!!
Posted by Duncan on September 29, 2009 18:16