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Buses take a carpark backseat at Phuket International Airport

Phuket Airport to Beaches Bus Service Could Be Public Transport Solution

Friday, September 9, 2011
PHUKET: In a bold move aimed at resolving some of Phuket's key traffic issues, Phuket's Director of Transport plans to invite the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation to start new bus services from Phuket airport to Phuket's west and south.

Success of the move would fix Phuket's key public transport problem - the lack of cheap and efficient public transport from Phuket International Airport to Phuket's prime west coast tourist destinations of Patong, Karon and Kata, as well as further south.

Phuket Director of Transport Terayoot Prasertphol aims to put the proposal to Organisation Chief Executive Paiboon Upatising - the man behind Phuket City's successful pink bus service - as soon as Khun Paiboon returns from India, where he is promoting Phuket in a road show.

Khun Terayoot told Phuketwan that three routes would be essential: Phuket airport to Patong, Kata and Karon (western Phuket); Phuket airport to Chalong-Rawai (southern Phuket) and Phuket airport to Surin and Kamala (beaches north of Patong.)

''These are the routes that Phuket needs most,'' Khun Terayoot said. ''These routes are available for contract to the right bidder.''

Efforts to start a bus service between Karon and Patong failed in the '90s when a bus driver was badly beaten by opponents of the concept.

Since then, transport between Phuket International Airport and Phuket's west coast - Phuket's prime tourism zone - has been monopolised by tuk-tuks and taxis, at extortionate fares.

With the plan for enlarging Phuket International Airport still in the design phase, space for buses in any new service could be created close to the international and domestic terminals.

At present tour buses are relegated to the back of the airport car park, forcing tourists to carry their bags to the buses. Taxis wait in the prime spots.

The timing has never been better to try to start an efficient low-cost public transport system on Phuket, with a new national government likely to be sympathetic.

Having created the highly-praised pink bus service that criss-crosses Phuket City at 10 baht for adults, with students travelling for free, Khun Paiboon's organisation - known as the Orborjor - would be the most appropriate group to run an efficient low-cost transport network all over Phuket.

Phuket's roads are rapidly choking from gridlock. With no alternative, Phuket residents are forced to use cars or motorcycles, or pay excessive rates for taxis or tuk-tuks, or use motorcycle taxis.

Whether the Transport Department and the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation are prepared to pursue the concept will only become apparent once the new national government expresses its view.

Pressure is certainly mounting for change on Phuket.

Another suggestion by Khun Terayoot is for the car park alongside the Karon-Kata administrative offices to become a call centre for tuk-tuks and taxis for all of Kata and Karon.

All resorts in Kata-Karon would call for vehicles that could be waiting for work in the car park.

The idea would end congestion caused by having about 50 taxi ranks scattered on the mostly narrow roads throughout the district.

Comments

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A welcome development, an incremental positive, but isn't the focus on transport between the airport and the resorts missing the key point?

Sure, airport route pricing is on the high side, but at least it only hits on arrival and departure and primarily the tourists only.

In contrast, it's the inter and intra resort transit - for example, within Patong, from Patong to Karon, from Chalong to Surin, etc - that suffer most from a missing public option, a hole that is then filled by monopolistic over-priced tuk-tuks. Further, these routes affect all groups - tourists, foreign residents, Thai residents, migrant workers - and are used with higher frequency.

Posted by D on September 9, 2011 07:42

Editor Comment:

As far as we can tell, there is no overall transport strategy for Phuket. The best hope for phased improvement rests with delivering the services that Phuket most obviously needs for tourism. To tackle the hardest part first seems to have little appeal to administrators.

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I've been saying this for a long time now, but the pink bus service does need extending to cover the entire island. There's going to be trouble to start with, sure, but 'no pain no gain' as the saying goes.

Posted by agogohome on September 9, 2011 09:05

Editor Comment:

It probably won't be the ''pinkie bus'' from the airport, although west coast residents will eventually need a Phuket City solution.

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the problem !! what do with over 1500 taxi tuk tuk drivers who make more than 50000bht a month !!waiting for the bigger problems !!! let them worked but with meters and controlling !!!!! more tax income for paying control systems !!

Posted by donaldo on September 9, 2011 10:13

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This is a small step forward in the right direction for Phuket's transport issues.
What I think is needed is a well connected and extensive smart bus system. A central main hub can be around central/Lotus with timetables, ticketing , information and and transit info. Smaller hubs then at places like Chalong, Patong, Surin with stops along all the major routes/beaches/places of interest. Timetables/screens at bus stops and fast payment on the bus with set prices and smart payment through Thai ID cards.
These routes can then be extended/contracted as needed and would surely be a more feasible alternative to the glamorous and costly light rail/tram system...
Even go one step further and put dedicated bus lanes where congestion is heaviest to create more incentive to ride the bus.
All cities have fairly decent bus systems and Phuket is fast becoming a city.

Posted by The Insider on September 9, 2011 12:15

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"Prime" west coast tourist destinations. HAHAHA, good one. More like "crime west coast". The only thing the west coast has going for it is sunsets. That's the only thing they can't ruin with overdevelopment, unless a building blocks your view. The east side has quiet beaches, friendly people who don't cheat you, very cheap housing and food, and sea you can actually swim in without fear of drowning. I know which side I prefer...

Posted by Eastside Posse on September 9, 2011 12:33

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@Eastside posse..Overpaid for a "superb" apartment on the Eastside and trying to make yourself feel better by bagging the expensive West Coast, eh? Last time I checked Rawai and Yamu were East Coast & both have had blockades. You like swimming in mud too, eh?

Posted by petr on September 9, 2011 14:13

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The introduction of a public bus service between the airport and popular island destinations is a welcome step (a BIG step) in a positive direction.

Can I politely suggest that the invitation to tender includes the cost for providing an armed guard for each bus driver, as well as continuous in-bus video/audio recording?

Simon

Posted by Simon Luttrell on September 9, 2011 18:41

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Another one of those fine ideas that will be put down by a well placed "don't move forward on this" bribe.

Posted by JingJing on September 9, 2011 23:37

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Pretty sad when they call providing bus service a "BOLD MOVE". I hope they provide police protection for the drivers.

Posted by Anonymous on September 10, 2011 08:23

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Its about time the local media started naming and shaming local government officials/families that own the tuk tuk cartels! Losing face appears to be the only thing that might spur them into changing their self indulgent business practices!

Posted by Peter on September 10, 2011 12:54

Editor Comment:

If you are so sure of the facts, why don't you hire and advertising van and go around broadcasting them instead?


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