A SPECIAL governor's transport committee has been asked to approve the addition of 150 tuk-tuks and 25 metered taxis to the present numbers of registered vehicles on Phuket.
Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob, one day short of retiring, spoke briefly yesterday to the committee to suggest that unless there are improvements in transport on Phuket, Phuket resorts should start to warn their guests about rip-offs.
As a final idea, he said that the best of the tuk-tuk drivers could be granted a registration sticker by Phuket administrators at Provincial Hall that would enable only those approved vehicles to be recommended by resorts.
The Committee to Register Public Transport and Car Services on Phuket was set up by Governor Wichai to deal with Phuket's transport issues in the same way that the governor's special committee on the environment has been overseeing all property approvals.
Fronting the committee's third session yesterday were representatives from Phuket's meter taxi company, who said that although there were 69 meter taxis on Phuket as at September 17, only 55-60 were available on any given day.
This was an insufficient number when two or more flights landed at Phuket airport about the same time, the committee was told. The argument was put that as limousine numbers had been increased recently, taxi meter numbers should be increased, too.
Concern was expressed about the potential for a backlash blockade by limo drivers if the increase in taxi numbers proved to be controversial. The Airports of Thailand committee representative said the taxi meter company had asked them for an increase of 30, not 25.
How could it be guaranteed that the new taxis are not on-sold to others, as was the case with the new limo licences, one committee member asked. The AoT representative said there were already 358 vehicles registered to operate out of the airport.
It was left to the AoT to look more closely at the issue and report back.
The committee, meeting at the Transport Office in Phuket City, then moved on to a request from the Tuk-Tuk Federation to add 150 tuk-tuks. Seventy were already operating illegally, the committee was told.
There were 1158 registered tuk-tuks on Phuket, 644 rear-entry and 514 side-entry, with the rear-entry kind operating only in Kathu and Phuket City and side-entry vehicles operating all over the island.
In Patong, there were 700-800 tuk-tuks, 1385 motorcycle taxis at 131 taxi stands - and about 5000 ''black'' illegal taxis, the committee was told by a tuk-tuk representative who said he had 23 years' experience.
The ''black'' taxis multiplied with the number of tourists, and vehicles that didn't even look vaguely like taxis took fares when US Navy warships anchored off Phuket.
If the ''black'' taxis could be outlawed, it would be possible to register 500 more tuk-tuks, the committee was told.
One committee member pointed out that even Thailand's Human Rights Commission had recently added to the great number of complaints about tuk-tuks taking over public parking spots in Patong.
Another added that a Phuket tourism road show to Australia that returned just last week had heard complaint after complaint from travel agents about tuk-tuk rip-offs, reflecting the attitude of most tourists to extortionate fares and bad attitudes.
The tuk-tuk drivers often dressed poorly and were rude to visitors, the committee heard.
Governor Wichai's suggestion of a new select code for approved tuk-tuks is to be considered, along with the application for the additional 150 tuk-tuks.
Chaired by Vice Governor Niwit Aroonrat, the committee includes representatives from the Public Prosecutor's Office, Phuket's Deputy Police Chief, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, AoT, the Phuket Tourist Association, the Tourist Police, Patong Municipality, Kathu police station, the Transport Department and the Director of the Kathu District.
Future Phuket, the Good . . . and the Not So GoodGovernor Wichai Praisa-ngob, one day short of retiring, spoke briefly yesterday to the committee to suggest that unless there are improvements in transport on Phuket, Phuket resorts should start to warn their guests about rip-offs.
As a final idea, he said that the best of the tuk-tuk drivers could be granted a registration sticker by Phuket administrators at Provincial Hall that would enable only those approved vehicles to be recommended by resorts.
The Committee to Register Public Transport and Car Services on Phuket was set up by Governor Wichai to deal with Phuket's transport issues in the same way that the governor's special committee on the environment has been overseeing all property approvals.
Fronting the committee's third session yesterday were representatives from Phuket's meter taxi company, who said that although there were 69 meter taxis on Phuket as at September 17, only 55-60 were available on any given day.
This was an insufficient number when two or more flights landed at Phuket airport about the same time, the committee was told. The argument was put that as limousine numbers had been increased recently, taxi meter numbers should be increased, too.
Concern was expressed about the potential for a backlash blockade by limo drivers if the increase in taxi numbers proved to be controversial. The Airports of Thailand committee representative said the taxi meter company had asked them for an increase of 30, not 25.
How could it be guaranteed that the new taxis are not on-sold to others, as was the case with the new limo licences, one committee member asked. The AoT representative said there were already 358 vehicles registered to operate out of the airport.
It was left to the AoT to look more closely at the issue and report back.
The committee, meeting at the Transport Office in Phuket City, then moved on to a request from the Tuk-Tuk Federation to add 150 tuk-tuks. Seventy were already operating illegally, the committee was told.
There were 1158 registered tuk-tuks on Phuket, 644 rear-entry and 514 side-entry, with the rear-entry kind operating only in Kathu and Phuket City and side-entry vehicles operating all over the island.
In Patong, there were 700-800 tuk-tuks, 1385 motorcycle taxis at 131 taxi stands - and about 5000 ''black'' illegal taxis, the committee was told by a tuk-tuk representative who said he had 23 years' experience.
The ''black'' taxis multiplied with the number of tourists, and vehicles that didn't even look vaguely like taxis took fares when US Navy warships anchored off Phuket.
If the ''black'' taxis could be outlawed, it would be possible to register 500 more tuk-tuks, the committee was told.
One committee member pointed out that even Thailand's Human Rights Commission had recently added to the great number of complaints about tuk-tuks taking over public parking spots in Patong.
Another added that a Phuket tourism road show to Australia that returned just last week had heard complaint after complaint from travel agents about tuk-tuk rip-offs, reflecting the attitude of most tourists to extortionate fares and bad attitudes.
The tuk-tuk drivers often dressed poorly and were rude to visitors, the committee heard.
Governor Wichai's suggestion of a new select code for approved tuk-tuks is to be considered, along with the application for the additional 150 tuk-tuks.
Chaired by Vice Governor Niwit Aroonrat, the committee includes representatives from the Public Prosecutor's Office, Phuket's Deputy Police Chief, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, AoT, the Phuket Tourist Association, the Tourist Police, Patong Municipality, Kathu police station, the Transport Department and the Director of the Kathu District.
Road Show Wrap Resorts appear to be less reticent to speak up these days about Phuket's problems. Phuketwan becomes a media pioneer and hears what travel agents and customers have to say.
Future Phuket, the Good . . . and the Not So Good
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Who dreams up this stuff???
Is this now the new easy-money option? There are enough rip off tuk tuks on this island.
Damn the taxis as well. There should be a decent public transport system in place here.
Same BS, different day.
Posted by Robin on September 29, 2010 08:01