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LOCAL TAXI and tuk-tuk representatives met with management at the Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa, Phuket, yesterday to discuss how the two could best work together.
The new, stylish resort has just opened on Siray Island, east of Phuket City. The Westin is the latest to be approached to join in an arrangement that would allow local drivers to establish a virtual monopoly on transporting guests around Phuket.
Phuketwan believes that the delegation was planning to request that 70 local drivers of all types of vehicles be permitted by management to pick up guests at the hotel on an exclusive basis.
Three driver representatives were escorted through the resort lobby to meet with management yesterday afternoon.
The Westin opened in August. Most resorts on Phuket are invited to enter into this kind of arrangement soon after they open for business.
A meeting of the governor's special committee on transport was told on Tuesday that as well as having 1158 registered tuk-tuks and more than 300 metred taxis, limousines and minibuses, Phuket also has about 5000 illegal ''black'' taxis.
The tuk-tuks, taxis and motorcycle taxis constitute Phuket's main form of transport, especially after sunset when the island's antique and low-fare seung taew buses stop running.
People within the tourism industry say the biggest source of complaints by tourists who visit Phuket remains the high fares demanded by tuk-tuks and taxis, both registered and unregistered.
Many people who are ripped off avoid Phuket in future and instead go to other destinations, say travel agents, tourism industry officials and resort managers.
Prices for trips from Siray Island to various points around Phuket, listed at the taxi stand just beyond the Westin boom gate, includes the following (for taxis/vans): to Phuket Town 300/500 baht; to Big C Lotus Central 400/600 baht; to Chalong 500/700 baht; to Patong 600/800 baht; to airport 800/1000 baht; to Surin beach 800/1000 baht; to Big Buddha 800/1000 baht; to Khao Lak 2500/2700 baht.
Until recently, US warships anchored at Phuket as the favored port in Thailand for shore leave, boosting the Phuket economy considerably. Visits tapered off after a series of blockades by local taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, who objected to buses shuttling US service personnel from the deep sea port at Cape Panwa to Patong.
Blockades have also been applied by drivers based at Phuket International Airport at times when disputes have arisen about fares or the number of vehicles permitted to access the airport.
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Siray to Phuket town 300 baht - that's a joke. monopolies don't work. many countries have tried and failed, including Thailand. its banned in big business, why not in small business as well ?
I travel the world as part of my job in brasil now already met a few people who have been to Phuket: usual statement, beautiful place (nice women) rip off merchants and taxis
Posted by Michael on October 2, 2010 08:01