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Queen Mary 2 passenger Judie Touch and her husband on Phuket today

Photo by phuketwan.com

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Phuket Drivers Complain as QM2 Prebooks Tours

By Chuitima Sidasathian and Animanun Chiwverojanakit

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

PATONG taxi-drivers complained today as passengers from the Queen Mary 2 walked past them to take pre-booked tours.

The luxury cruise liner anchored off Patong this morning, in a move that surprised even Tourism Authority of Thailand staffers who were expecting the ship to dock at Cape Panwa.

Waiting onshore in Patong and expecting that some of the well-to-do passengers on the round the world voyage would need a taxi was Pitsanu Suksiri.

As the passengers strolled past him for a selection of pre-planned tours in mini-buses and saloon cars, Khun Pitsanu said: ''Drivers are missing out because guests don't know they can catch a local taxi when they arrive.''

Some of the stalls near the pontoon jetty at the southern end of Patong beach sold fake bags and sunglasses, plus souvenirs and dresses, to the arriving band of passengers.

It's the maiden visit to Phuket by the Queen Mary 2, a top-class liner that has just about every facility imaginable on board.

One couple who strolled ashore today, Judie Touch and her husband, from Florida, are booked on the Queen Mary 2 for all 100 days.

''We're very pleased to be here,'' Mrs Touch told Phuketwan. ''The beach looks beautiful and so does the sea. I have been looking at photographs of Phuket in travel magazines, and now we are here.''

The couple are heading for James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay today, one of a range of excursions available to passengers in the hours before the ship departs for Penang in Malaysia at 6pm tonight.

Another cruise ship, one of the regular visitors, is due off Phuket this afternoon.

A tuk-tuk driver nearby at the southern end of Patong told Phuketwan that the empty parking space on the beach road was prebooked for a tuk-tuk.

When Phuketwan parked around the corner outside the Burasari Resort, a security guard said the space ''belonged to a taxi.''

Visitors to Phuket have been complaining more frequently lately about the monopoly of tuk-tuks, taxis and hire firms in Patong and Karon and the continuing high fares being charged.

Exorbitant fares are demanded on Phuket, even though other segments of the tourism industry have been obliged to offer large discounts to keep visitors coming.

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Comments

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Well done the cruse line company for keeping the customers from the rip-off taxis at the main port . I guess the word has got around about the taxi fare of 2600 baht to Patong .

Posted by Lord Jim on February 3, 2010 14:03

News of the transport disasters in Phuket reach every corner of the globe, thanks to the internet.

I suspect that a warning may have been provided by the guest relations aboard the QM2 to passengers regarding the scams on the island and provided safer transport to activities.

The five-star passengers are well taken care of aboard these cruises and are not expected to get into a dangerous tuk tuk with a aggressive driver.

I for one am happy the Taxi's/tuk tuks are suffering.
Makes me smile.

Posted by Glen on February 3, 2010 14:19

Note to Pitsanu Suksiri (taxi driver)

I think the guests do know they can catch a local taxi but have been WARNED otherwise.

5* Cruise liners are not going to let their 5* guests get nabbed!

Posted by Sean on February 3, 2010 15:03

It is the right of any tourist to take any transport of their choice. On a luxury cruise is it not best to have organised air conditioned taxis? 5 star customers pay for 5 star service. Good on the cruise company. Maybe TAT will wake up before the wheels fall off

Posted by jmw on February 3, 2010 17:09

Great news that they had everything pre-planned - the more of this the better. I had a great view of the ship today and watched it sail off just after 8 this evening, leaving the taxi drivers spitting feathers in it's steam. The local taxi drivers missed out because the tour company knows EXACTLY what the local taxis are like.

Posted by Mister Ree on February 3, 2010 22:31

Thumbs up to the cruise line for providing 5-star service to 5-start clients. Take care of them, they spread the word and everyone makes money.

Posted by Anonymous on February 4, 2010 01:02

I do not feel sorry for the tuk tuk drivers and taxi drivers. I was in Patong last week and paid 200 baht to go from Bangla Rd to the Novotel (Patong not Panwa!), a 5 minute trip!

I paid 290 baht in a meter taxi in Bangkok to take me from my hotel near Siam Square to the airport, a trip that took about half an hour! Phuket is good value for tourists except for the tuk tuks!

Posted by Tony on February 5, 2010 15:00