Big gasp for what little sense, if any, is left on this island ? Are you ting tong or baa mak mak, dude ?

Posted by Mouse on July 14, 2009 18:26

{quote]Sarayuth Mallam, Vice President of the Phuket Tourist Association, said that tuk-tuks were having a detrimental effect on tourism.

"Are you crazy?" he said, addressing the meeting in general. "There are already too many tuk-tuks and no space for parking in Patong."[/quote]

Hooray for K. Sarayuth!

Posted by D on July 14, 2009 21:09

Sure, more tuk-tuks. No sense in doing something reasonable like a bus service.

Posted by frank on July 14, 2009 21:45

Iis it possible to petition , or complain to the Phuket Tourist Association,and if so, how to go about it ????? I'm sure a lot of people would like to know .

Editor: The Governor has a post box for suggestions and is keen to hear good ideas. Send a letter to PO Box 101, Phuket City, 83000, or drop a note at the post box outside the Governor's Mansion in Phuket City.

Posted by elizabeth on July 14, 2009 22:37

Why not make it by law that all Tuk Tuk's shall have a taxi-meter ?
Taxi meters used on horse wagons 150 years ago, so it is very easy today to install.
Had not used a Tuk Tuk for more then 5 years, and tell all my friends who come not to do as well.

Posted by PH Phuket on July 14, 2009 23:18

Quite unbelievable.
Year after year the complaints from tourists have the tuk tuks at number 1.

On a recent visit to Patong, it was almost impossible to cross the beach road onto the footpath because the tuk tuks were DOUBLE parked nose to tail. There are clearly too many tuk tuks now.

Anyone visiting Patong can see that. Halving the numbers would mean few drivers getting more money. Goodness me - they could even reduce their fares!

Posted by MrSensible on July 15, 2009 07:05

The Governor is powerless to enforce any new laws or regulations against the Tuk Tuks, they are a law unto themselves. When they tried to enforce parking restrictions for Tuk tuks it was a sham. Unfortunately these little red overpriced annoying bits of junk will be part of Patong for the foreseeable future and the problems will continue. The thought of any increase in numbers is total lunacy.

Posted by Local on July 15, 2009 14:10

Here's an idea. Start with Baht buses in Patong. Same as they have in Pattaya. Running along Beach and Second Road.

This solves the problem of rip offs for short rides. Then get more metered Taxis.

The only way to rid ourselves of the Tuk Tuks is to starve them to death. If they have no rides they can ask all the money they want......

Posted by Max on July 15, 2009 16:20

I have been a regular visitor to Phuket over 15 years. I came back on one special trip after the tsunami to report back to New Zealand on the recovery.

TAT said the best thing we in NZ - and anywhere else - could do, was "to come visit". I agreed.

I still think it is 'a magic place'.

But in the last three years or so, there are changes for the worse. The tuk-tuk operators in Patong have become a law unto themselves, especially since the one way system was introduced. The price rises are extortion by any name justly earning the sobriquet of the 'tuk-tuk mafia'.

Time for someone to do something to rein things in before further damage to Phuket's image occurs.

Posted by rfdunedin on July 21, 2009 00:42

The TAT are changing their name to TIT. Nothing is ever going to change with the tuk tuks, they will just get worse. So TIT rules ok.

Posted by Mouse on July 21, 2009 08:57

The government needs to stamp out the mafia in Thailand and especially places like Phuket and Pattaya.

Can you really see that happening?

Get real.

Posted by Harry Barracuda on July 22, 2009 13:53

The failure of the local authorities to manage the situation speaks volumes. I avoid the tuk-tuks and tell anyone I know to boycott them as well. it worked for Martin Luther King when people of colour wanted to be treated as human beings on the Birmingham buses. It's worth a try on Phuket. I won't use a tuk tuk until I am treated fairly and honestly.

Posted by Angry Tourist on July 27, 2009 10:38