PHUKET had plenty to be proud of, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Dr Peerapon Taitasawit, said last night. But he went on to deliver a strongly critical message to local authorities.
The senior bureaucrat from Bangkok surprised many important island identities in the audience as he formally opened the Patong Carnival 2008.
What he had to say from the stage on the Patong beachfront shocked many listeners, who were expecting a typical ''welcome to the carnival'' speech.
In no uncertain terms, he made the point that the island's tessaban chiefs should serve the community rather than ''taking the opportunity to line their pockets.''
The Patong tessaban had supplied journalists with copies of the friendly carnival opening speech Dr Peerapon was supposed to make.
What he actually had to say was off the cuff, totally different, and it contained a strong message.
Dr Peerapon, who said he was a frequent visitor to Phuket for holidays with his family, warned that the high cost of tuk-tuks, jetskis and longtail taxi boats could turn foreign tourists away.
''If they are happy with the price, they will come back again and again,'' he said. ''If the prices are too high, it will have the opposite effect.''
A big profit today could mean low profit or even no profit tomorrow, he said.
The sharpness of Dr Peerapon's speech surprised many people in the audience, which included the mayor of Patong, Pian Keesin, the mayors of Karon and Kamala, and the Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan.
Dr Peerapon, one of Bangkok's highest-ranking public servants, said that as part of their role, tessabans needed to control the cost of transport services.
''More tourists will come, even in an economic downturn, if these kinds of costs are not allowed to get out of control,'' he said.
Dr Peerapon said that tourists on holiday do not come to Phuket to have arguments with tuk-tuk drivers about the high cost of short journeys.
Too many of those kinds of disputes will lead people to go to other places.
''Tuk tuk drivers and others should not take advantage of tourists,'' he said.
Dr Peerapon went on to urge the Tourism Authority of Thailand to bring journalists from CNN and Reuters to report that Phuket remains a safe destination.
He also sought to promote greater local interest in Phuket's environment.
''This is your home,'' he said. ''You should take care of your own home.''
Dr Peerapon also held talks with Governor Dr Preecha while on Phuket.
The Patong Carnival, extended this year to run for six days, closes with a second procession and more speeches on December 20.
Phuket Tourist Court Plan to Tackle Injustice
Phuket's new governor is looking closely at tuktuks, jetskis and justice for tourists to prevent the economic downturn bringing social disaster for the island's troubled tourism industry.
Phuket Tourist Court Plan to Tackle Injustice
The senior bureaucrat from Bangkok surprised many important island identities in the audience as he formally opened the Patong Carnival 2008.
What he had to say from the stage on the Patong beachfront shocked many listeners, who were expecting a typical ''welcome to the carnival'' speech.
In no uncertain terms, he made the point that the island's tessaban chiefs should serve the community rather than ''taking the opportunity to line their pockets.''
The Patong tessaban had supplied journalists with copies of the friendly carnival opening speech Dr Peerapon was supposed to make.
What he actually had to say was off the cuff, totally different, and it contained a strong message.
Dr Peerapon, who said he was a frequent visitor to Phuket for holidays with his family, warned that the high cost of tuk-tuks, jetskis and longtail taxi boats could turn foreign tourists away.
''If they are happy with the price, they will come back again and again,'' he said. ''If the prices are too high, it will have the opposite effect.''
A big profit today could mean low profit or even no profit tomorrow, he said.
The sharpness of Dr Peerapon's speech surprised many people in the audience, which included the mayor of Patong, Pian Keesin, the mayors of Karon and Kamala, and the Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan.
Dr Peerapon, one of Bangkok's highest-ranking public servants, said that as part of their role, tessabans needed to control the cost of transport services.
''More tourists will come, even in an economic downturn, if these kinds of costs are not allowed to get out of control,'' he said.
Dr Peerapon said that tourists on holiday do not come to Phuket to have arguments with tuk-tuk drivers about the high cost of short journeys.
Too many of those kinds of disputes will lead people to go to other places.
''Tuk tuk drivers and others should not take advantage of tourists,'' he said.
Dr Peerapon went on to urge the Tourism Authority of Thailand to bring journalists from CNN and Reuters to report that Phuket remains a safe destination.
He also sought to promote greater local interest in Phuket's environment.
''This is your home,'' he said. ''You should take care of your own home.''
Dr Peerapon also held talks with Governor Dr Preecha while on Phuket.
The Patong Carnival, extended this year to run for six days, closes with a second procession and more speeches on December 20.
Phuket Tourist Court Plan to Tackle Injustice
Phuket's new governor is looking closely at tuktuks, jetskis and justice for tourists to prevent the economic downturn bringing social disaster for the island's troubled tourism industry.
Phuket Tourist Court Plan to Tackle Injustice
Every year for the last seven years we fly from the United States to come to Phuket. However, each year, we debate the value of Phuket as a destination precisely because of the tourist annoyances such as tuk tuk and the transportation monopoly on the island. With the recent Thailand airport crisis driving many visitors away, Phuket needs to present itself as a competitive destination. Many travelers are casting their eyes to other destinations which offer fewer hassles and less political uncertainty in the near term. If alleviating the tuk tuk issues and other tourist gouging practices prevalent in Phuket can really work, this will go a ways to helping Phuket regain its place as a favored tourist destination.
Posted by Spahkee on December 17, 2008 09:34