Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Tourists in Krabi are to benefit from a price-watching committee

Krabi Governor Acts to Prevent Unfair Tourist Prices

Wednesday, April 29, 2015
PHUKET: Krabi Governor Songpol Sawasditham has set up a price control committee after local residents and tourists had complained about unfair prices of products and services in the province.

He said provincial authorities received a great number of complaints about overpriced foods from Dhamrongdham Center and online media.

He said such criticisms threatened the image of Krabi and could hurt tourism industry both in the province and the whole country.

The newly launched committee will inspect, oversee and control prices of products and services to ensure they are in compliance with Prices of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2542 and the government's policy to return happiness to the people.

Traders and service operators failing to indicate prices for consumers will be fined for 10,000 baht each.

Those who set unfair prices will be jailed seven years at maximum and fined not exceeding 140,000 baht

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

Okay, so there is a Prices of Goods and Services Act B.E. 2542. Why oh why is this not applied against the taxis and tuk tuks of Phuket? Talk about setting unfair prices....

Posted by Tim on April 29, 2015 07:26

gravatar

Tim

because it applies to selected controlled goods and services , which are mostly chosen as first necessity goods.
Taxi , in general, is a luxury service.

Acts applies to a kind of foods like Khao Khaeng etc.

In regard of tourists' food what they mean probably here is clear display of prices and known size of portions, not the price itself.

Khao Kaeng and bottled water prices were regulated all over the counry, bar the tourism places, that is logical.

Posted by Sue on April 29, 2015 08:51

gravatar

@ Tim, answer: Phuket Governor is still hard working on enforcing the law regarding not smoking and drinking on the beaches. When that is fully implemented the Governor has to scratch his head about the illegal jet skies at Phuket beaches. You see, the Phuket Governor has a bucket list with priorities sett.

Posted by Kurt on April 29, 2015 08:51

gravatar

The krabi governor will take action and not just talk about it either.
First province I ever saw agreed price lists in English and was for the boat rides from ao bang beach and noparathara beach next to it
Also banned jet skis chairs on beach etc etc the only place he does not seem to have much control over is phi phi island

Posted by Michael on April 29, 2015 08:59

gravatar

It is well known that Krabi Governor is a Governor who acts as a Governor.
Phuket Governor only talks ( and with Consuls he even avoided talks 7 months). All on Phuket based Consuls have also Krabi in their region portfolio. It is well known that the Consuls are much more happy with how thinks are going in Krabi area, compared with Phuket ( no jet skies, tuk tuk control, and now attacking 'unfair' prices with a promise of max 7 years jail or fines up to 140,000 baht! That will help to govern!

Posted by Kurt on April 29, 2015 09:03

gravatar

Would be so nice for the Phuket Governor to be more proactive like his colleague in Krabi.

Posted by Discover Thainess on April 29, 2015 10:45

gravatar

And what about the differented price entering a special island, counted as park?
Tourist= 200 baht
Thsi= 20 baht.
Do the longtail get commission?
Do they even inform the guests before that it will cost them extra entering an island that charges money for a ten minutes stop.
Look this video 20 minutes in. And you will see proof of this. http://youtu.be/gf2EWygHKmY

Posted by Peter on April 29, 2015 10:56

gravatar

@Sue: You are well off the mark when you state taxis are a luxury service.

They might be in some countries where there is a regulated public transport system. But in Phuket, these thugs have steadfastly opposed any form of public bus service over the past 20 years & maybe more, often resorting to violence to support their perceived right. They have virtually held the island to ransom & that affects not only tourists, but ordinary Thai people who come to try 7 earn a living on Phuket. So not a luxury.

Posted by Logic on April 29, 2015 13:11

gravatar

@Logic

please don't mix absence of public transport with positioning of single vehicle / few passengers costly service , that is always economic luxury goods.

Especially in a hot tourist area.

It would be different of course where there are no hot tourust money.

And taxi prices in Phuket - although I don't like - are OK, since people are coming in hordes, and by official statistics of their expenses breakdown are well spending on transportation . I think taxi prices in Phuket have a quite reserve to grow up to a level where there is a material impact on numbers of tourist , surely this level is above 2-3X of the current prices.
Albeit the state will continue regulate taxi service in regard of the quality of the service standard , it is highly unlikely that they will interfere to reduce effective prices in hot tourist areas as long as numbers of tourist are not falling on account of taxi prices - which is a reasonable policy, as money spent by tourists on taxis stay in the economy , but savings which hypothetical coerced taxi service prices drop could generate will most probably will stay with tourists and beyond the economy - increase of spendings because of better mobility only would influence mostly places like Patong in the night.

Posted by Sue on April 29, 2015 17:16

Editor Comment:

The feedback from the Asian Beach Games last year was that Phuket taxi fares are far too high, high enough to prevent future international events being held here. The rip-off is also evident to anyone who comes to the holiday island after a Bangkok stopover. It's the biggest scam on the island. Taxis should be at a price that residents can afford.

gravatar

contrary to one of the first rules of business, charge all the market will bear

Posted by mike on April 29, 2015 22:44

gravatar

"Those who set unfair prices will be jailed seven years at maximum and fined not exceeding 140,000 baht.."

This is absolute nonsense!!! There will be a committee to determined which price is fair and which is not?

Posted by geoff on April 30, 2015 01:08

gravatar

Why do not the authourities give Loma Park Patong a visit?Everything same, same beer and ambrellas seller as before on the beach.

Posted by El Marinero on April 30, 2015 09:47


Thursday March 28, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter