PHUKET: Government administrators on Phuket were sending mixed messages about public transport, a committee looking at tourism industry rip-offs heard yesterday.
While some people were seeking taxi meters as a solution, a lot more needed to happen for metered taxis to work, said Sarayuth Mallam, the private enterprise representative on the committee. ''There's not much point in adding meters as long as Phuket's taxis still operate in zones, where a taxi driver from one area cannot make pickups in another zone,'' he said.
Khun Sarayuth also said that it was time for police to enforce the law on taxi groups who sometimes blockade resorts.
''More and more resorts are buying their own vehicles to transport their guests and these vehicles are in fact 'black' illegal taxis,'' he said. ''Each hotel is doing the same thing.''
The meeting, chaired by Vice Governor Wirawat Janpen, was attended by several deputy mayors, representatives from Phucket Marine Office 5, and Airports of Thailand.
Khun Sarayuth said that because the approach of the police was a key to changing public transport on Phuket, more senior police officers should be at the meeting in future. The problem is bound to get worse because the number of ''black'' illegal taxis continues to increase, Khun Sarayuth said.
Phuket Transport Director Terayout Prasertphol said he was sending a letter to the Transport Department in Bangkok asking the department to set a minimum fare schedule for taxis and tuk-tuks on Phuket.
Khun Sarayuth asked why Phuket Transport needed to ask Bangkok to set the scheduled fares when the Phuket office had been able to approve the last additional purchase of tuk-tuks for Phuket several years ago.
The new schedule needed to be firmly affixed to every tuk-tuk, Khun Sarayuth said.
Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukban said there were many ''mafia'' taxi groups in Patong and a solution to the problem was becoming more urgent.
''I've been all over the world and everywhere, the taxi drivers wear uniforms and know how to behave,'' he said. ''It doesn't happen here.''
Some of the taxi drivers do not even have licences.
The committee - one of four established by the Interior Ministry to look at various aspects of tourism on Phuket - is to meet again on October 15.
While some people were seeking taxi meters as a solution, a lot more needed to happen for metered taxis to work, said Sarayuth Mallam, the private enterprise representative on the committee. ''There's not much point in adding meters as long as Phuket's taxis still operate in zones, where a taxi driver from one area cannot make pickups in another zone,'' he said.
Khun Sarayuth also said that it was time for police to enforce the law on taxi groups who sometimes blockade resorts.
''More and more resorts are buying their own vehicles to transport their guests and these vehicles are in fact 'black' illegal taxis,'' he said. ''Each hotel is doing the same thing.''
The meeting, chaired by Vice Governor Wirawat Janpen, was attended by several deputy mayors, representatives from Phucket Marine Office 5, and Airports of Thailand.
Khun Sarayuth said that because the approach of the police was a key to changing public transport on Phuket, more senior police officers should be at the meeting in future. The problem is bound to get worse because the number of ''black'' illegal taxis continues to increase, Khun Sarayuth said.
Phuket Transport Director Terayout Prasertphol said he was sending a letter to the Transport Department in Bangkok asking the department to set a minimum fare schedule for taxis and tuk-tuks on Phuket.
Khun Sarayuth asked why Phuket Transport needed to ask Bangkok to set the scheduled fares when the Phuket office had been able to approve the last additional purchase of tuk-tuks for Phuket several years ago.
The new schedule needed to be firmly affixed to every tuk-tuk, Khun Sarayuth said.
Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukban said there were many ''mafia'' taxi groups in Patong and a solution to the problem was becoming more urgent.
''I've been all over the world and everywhere, the taxi drivers wear uniforms and know how to behave,'' he said. ''It doesn't happen here.''
Some of the taxi drivers do not even have licences.
The committee - one of four established by the Interior Ministry to look at various aspects of tourism on Phuket - is to meet again on October 15.
How can a minimum fare help the consumer? Maybe a maximum fare could help and create competition if a driver would like to take a lower offer from a customer.
What's really needed is public buses.
Posted by Anonymous on September 29, 2011 14:36
Editor Comment:
There is a maximum fare in place under the previous restructure, but more often than not it becomes the minimum fare.