PHUKET: The big cleanup of Phuket is about to begin, sources in Bangkok and on Phuket confirmed to Phuketwan today, with the national government's welcome intervention coming at long last.
Official action is expected to target crimes, scams, rip-offs, taxi and tuk-tuk ''mafia'' and all the other issues that tourists have been complaining about on Phuket for years.
It's the first sign of a reaction from Thai authorities to tourists' complaints highlighted by the Chinese Ambassador, Guan Mu, and European Union ambassadors in recent meetings on Phuket.
Data about taxis and tuk-tuk numbers is being passed to the Department of Special Investigation, Phuketwan has learned.
The DSI held top-level talks with the Minister of Tourism and Sport, Somsak Pureesrisak yesterday.
More talks were being held today as the size and scale of the reaction to the big-picture issues became evident.
''This will be the real kick-off,'' The Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand on Phuket, Chanchai Duangchit, told Phuketwan today. ''It's very good news.''
Sources among the Bangkok diplomatic community are also reacting with glee at what appears to be an earnest reaction by Bangkok to Phuket's needs.
''This is great news,'' Khun Chanchai said. ''It's good for Phuket. ''The Ministry of Tourism and Sport is actually trying to fix the problems.
''If the problems had been left any longer, Phuket's future would have suffered.''
Other sources confirmed that the overhaul of Phuket tourism will begin on July 25 - and will continue for some time.
Some news sources have focussed on DSI attention to Russian and Korean ''mafia'' but Phuketwan has learned that the crackdown will be widespread and address all the issues raised by the ambassadors.
Information about Phuket's tuk-tuks and taxis - which have a monopoly on Phuket and are the source of most tourist complaints - has been specifically requested by the DSI.
The Chinese ambassador was scathing about corrupt police and immigration officials when he met Phuket authorities while the EU ambassadors issued a statement listing their seven major issues.
Since his recent appointment, the minister has made at least two visits to Phuket and he appears to be in total agreement with the ambassadors about the need for action.
Khun Chanchai said today that the introduction of a special court for tourists would also be part of the project.
Crimes of violence involving tourists are to be the subject of a special study, he said, with the intention of developing a ''Phuket model'' that can quickly be applied to Pattaya and other destinations in Thailand.
Phuketwan understands that the Prime Minister and Phuket's Governor are meeting ambassadors from Thailand's Asian neighbors today.
.. An efficient and fairly priced public transport system in Phuket which is available to foreign tourists and residents alike.
.. An end to intimidatory and violent behavior by an element of tuk-tuk and taxi drivers.
.. Strict enforcement of marine safety standards, including flags on beaches to indicate when it is safe to swim.
.. Strict enforcement of standards of behavior for public officials, including police and Immigration, to ensure that foreign visitors and residents feel protected, treated in a fair way and never at risk of extortion.
.. An end to scams involving hiring of equipment such as jet skis or motorbikes.
.. Strict enforcement of road safety regulations.
.. Promotion of environmental issues, including monitoring of water quality.
.. Increasing airport arrivals, poor infrastructure
.. Traffic
.. No controlling strategy, development occurring all over
.. Environmental degradation
.. Attacks on beaches and public land
.. Garbage mounting
.. Bad water
.. Tourists' and residents' safety and security
.. Rip-offs (timeshare touts etc.)
.. Tour guides
.. Authorities at odds with private sector
.. Taxis and jet-skis
.. Zero baht tours
Corruption Start a well-promoted public campaign to end corruption on the island and prosecute any official caught taking bribes. Investigate all allegations about Immigration officers and police. Create a corruption-free Phuket model for other provinces.
Sustainability Begin an investigation into what's required to keep Phuket a natural and appealing destination and set limits on development and tourist numbers based on the results of that investigation. Save the reefs and the beaches. Create a Phuket Beach Authority.
Transport Require all tuk-tuk and taxi drivers to register again and to meet international standards of service before being given new licences. Reduce their numbers by 10 percent a year for three years, offering alternative training. Introduce a call centre and abolish double-payment for journeys passengers don't make.
Crime Provide an extra 500 police for Phuket based on its actual population. Take up the Australian ambassador's suggestion of obliterating all illegal weapons and make the island a no-guns, no-knives zone.
Official action is expected to target crimes, scams, rip-offs, taxi and tuk-tuk ''mafia'' and all the other issues that tourists have been complaining about on Phuket for years.
It's the first sign of a reaction from Thai authorities to tourists' complaints highlighted by the Chinese Ambassador, Guan Mu, and European Union ambassadors in recent meetings on Phuket.
Data about taxis and tuk-tuk numbers is being passed to the Department of Special Investigation, Phuketwan has learned.
The DSI held top-level talks with the Minister of Tourism and Sport, Somsak Pureesrisak yesterday.
More talks were being held today as the size and scale of the reaction to the big-picture issues became evident.
''This will be the real kick-off,'' The Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand on Phuket, Chanchai Duangchit, told Phuketwan today. ''It's very good news.''
Sources among the Bangkok diplomatic community are also reacting with glee at what appears to be an earnest reaction by Bangkok to Phuket's needs.
''This is great news,'' Khun Chanchai said. ''It's good for Phuket. ''The Ministry of Tourism and Sport is actually trying to fix the problems.
''If the problems had been left any longer, Phuket's future would have suffered.''
Other sources confirmed that the overhaul of Phuket tourism will begin on July 25 - and will continue for some time.
Some news sources have focussed on DSI attention to Russian and Korean ''mafia'' but Phuketwan has learned that the crackdown will be widespread and address all the issues raised by the ambassadors.
Information about Phuket's tuk-tuks and taxis - which have a monopoly on Phuket and are the source of most tourist complaints - has been specifically requested by the DSI.
The Chinese ambassador was scathing about corrupt police and immigration officials when he met Phuket authorities while the EU ambassadors issued a statement listing their seven major issues.
Since his recent appointment, the minister has made at least two visits to Phuket and he appears to be in total agreement with the ambassadors about the need for action.
Khun Chanchai said today that the introduction of a special court for tourists would also be part of the project.
Crimes of violence involving tourists are to be the subject of a special study, he said, with the intention of developing a ''Phuket model'' that can quickly be applied to Pattaya and other destinations in Thailand.
Phuketwan understands that the Prime Minister and Phuket's Governor are meeting ambassadors from Thailand's Asian neighbors today.
European Union Ambassadors' List of Seven Phuket Needs
.. An efficient and fairly priced public transport system in Phuket which is available to foreign tourists and residents alike.
.. An end to intimidatory and violent behavior by an element of tuk-tuk and taxi drivers.
.. Strict enforcement of marine safety standards, including flags on beaches to indicate when it is safe to swim.
.. Strict enforcement of standards of behavior for public officials, including police and Immigration, to ensure that foreign visitors and residents feel protected, treated in a fair way and never at risk of extortion.
.. An end to scams involving hiring of equipment such as jet skis or motorbikes.
.. Strict enforcement of road safety regulations.
.. Promotion of environmental issues, including monitoring of water quality.
Minister for Tourism and Sport's 13 Topics
.. Increasing airport arrivals, poor infrastructure
.. Traffic
.. No controlling strategy, development occurring all over
.. Environmental degradation
.. Attacks on beaches and public land
.. Garbage mounting
.. Bad water
.. Tourists' and residents' safety and security
.. Rip-offs (timeshare touts etc.)
.. Tour guides
.. Authorities at odds with private sector
.. Taxis and jet-skis
.. Zero baht tours
Phuketwan's List
Corruption Start a well-promoted public campaign to end corruption on the island and prosecute any official caught taking bribes. Investigate all allegations about Immigration officers and police. Create a corruption-free Phuket model for other provinces.
Sustainability Begin an investigation into what's required to keep Phuket a natural and appealing destination and set limits on development and tourist numbers based on the results of that investigation. Save the reefs and the beaches. Create a Phuket Beach Authority.
Transport Require all tuk-tuk and taxi drivers to register again and to meet international standards of service before being given new licences. Reduce their numbers by 10 percent a year for three years, offering alternative training. Introduce a call centre and abolish double-payment for journeys passengers don't make.
Crime Provide an extra 500 police for Phuket based on its actual population. Take up the Australian ambassador's suggestion of obliterating all illegal weapons and make the island a no-guns, no-knives zone.
Good, then, apply also fast the projected Phuket model to Ko Lanta, as tuk tuk prices are sometimes rocketing, and garbage mounting, dirty muddy roads, and not to forget.... the huge Coal Plant Project that Phuket didn't want, Krabi area also wants to avoid it ...
Posted by serge on July 17, 2013 12:19