THE BIG test for Phuket's taxi drivers to deal honestly and fairly with visitors will come with the arrival of the next American aircraft carrier and accompanying destroyers.
Visited so far in successive years by the giant carriers USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz, Phuket usually gains one carrier for liberty leave each year, with about 5000 Navy personnel looking for transportation from the deep sea port on Phuket's east coast to Patong on the west coast.
Last week's four-hour blockade of cruise liner passengers is likely to have raised the concerns of US security officials about the next visit by an aircraft carrier.
US officials will not want a repetition of previous US Navy blockades - and Phuket officials last year promised them there would be no more problems with local taxi drivers, a promise that Phuket now seems unable to keep.
The leader of the local taxis involved in this week's dispute, Narong Kumbaan, told Phuketwan today: ''We don't have any problems with the US Navy.'' However, extensive talks involving US officials are known to have taken place after a series of blockades by local taxi drivers.
''If cruise ships come and we don't get any benefits, we are not concerned if they don't come. Mai ben rai (Never mind),'' Khun Narong said.
About 180 local taxi drivers on Wednesday prevented most of the 475 passengers from the luxury liner Silver Spirit enjoying a day's outing on Phuket, blockading the port for several hours and eventually winning a negotiated concession that they would glean 50 percent of future business.
Whether the Silversea line wishes to continue to visit Phuket will probably be discussed at a high level within the cruise line's management. Many of the passengers were upset at being prevented from a day's outing by the taxi drivers, and there are alternative destinations where cruise ships would be eagerly greeted.
''We provide a good taxi service for them,'' Khun Narong said today, perhaps overlooking the high cost and conditions in most of the cabs.
Phuketwan understands that many US Navy crews enjoy Phuket and what the island has to offer as a liberty port. However, whether it remains a port of preference for the US Navy may not be up to them.
Senior US Embassy officials are likely to again demand a guarantee from Phuket administrators that problems will not arise in future.
Despite a previous promise, the latest bout of trouble for the US Navy came in late March, when police had to be called to settle a dispute between local drivers and the crew of the destroyer USS Decatur.
Phuket expat residents have been calling out for years for national government intervention to end the monopolies held by local taxis and the island's peculiar four-wheel open-air tuk-tuk vehicles, which charge similar extortionate rates for both short and long trips.
The going fare demanded by local taxi drivers on Wednesday for trips from the Phuket east coast port to Phuket City was 500 baht, and they were asking 1500 baht for the trip of about 30 minutes across the island to Patong.
Today Khun Narong rejected one argument of critics, that the taxi drivers need to contribute to the international marketing of Phuket if they are to demand such high fares.
''Marketing is not our job,'' he said. ''We run the taxi service.'' He is not fussed if more cruise ships opt to anchor off Patong, on the other side of the island, or ignore Phuket completely.
''Never mind,'' he repeated. Most of the drivers are part-time, although with the high fares that can be obtained, some have quit less lucrative jobs in resorts to drive full-time.
''This problem is caused because the people who bring the tourists need to help the local people as well,'' Khun Narong reiterated. ''They shouldn't be too selfish.''
Update: Phuket Standoff as Taxis Blockade Cruise LinerVisited so far in successive years by the giant carriers USS Ronald Reagan and the USS Nimitz, Phuket usually gains one carrier for liberty leave each year, with about 5000 Navy personnel looking for transportation from the deep sea port on Phuket's east coast to Patong on the west coast.
Last week's four-hour blockade of cruise liner passengers is likely to have raised the concerns of US security officials about the next visit by an aircraft carrier.
US officials will not want a repetition of previous US Navy blockades - and Phuket officials last year promised them there would be no more problems with local taxi drivers, a promise that Phuket now seems unable to keep.
The leader of the local taxis involved in this week's dispute, Narong Kumbaan, told Phuketwan today: ''We don't have any problems with the US Navy.'' However, extensive talks involving US officials are known to have taken place after a series of blockades by local taxi drivers.
''If cruise ships come and we don't get any benefits, we are not concerned if they don't come. Mai ben rai (Never mind),'' Khun Narong said.
About 180 local taxi drivers on Wednesday prevented most of the 475 passengers from the luxury liner Silver Spirit enjoying a day's outing on Phuket, blockading the port for several hours and eventually winning a negotiated concession that they would glean 50 percent of future business.
Whether the Silversea line wishes to continue to visit Phuket will probably be discussed at a high level within the cruise line's management. Many of the passengers were upset at being prevented from a day's outing by the taxi drivers, and there are alternative destinations where cruise ships would be eagerly greeted.
''We provide a good taxi service for them,'' Khun Narong said today, perhaps overlooking the high cost and conditions in most of the cabs.
Phuketwan understands that many US Navy crews enjoy Phuket and what the island has to offer as a liberty port. However, whether it remains a port of preference for the US Navy may not be up to them.
Senior US Embassy officials are likely to again demand a guarantee from Phuket administrators that problems will not arise in future.
Despite a previous promise, the latest bout of trouble for the US Navy came in late March, when police had to be called to settle a dispute between local drivers and the crew of the destroyer USS Decatur.
Phuket expat residents have been calling out for years for national government intervention to end the monopolies held by local taxis and the island's peculiar four-wheel open-air tuk-tuk vehicles, which charge similar extortionate rates for both short and long trips.
The going fare demanded by local taxi drivers on Wednesday for trips from the Phuket east coast port to Phuket City was 500 baht, and they were asking 1500 baht for the trip of about 30 minutes across the island to Patong.
Today Khun Narong rejected one argument of critics, that the taxi drivers need to contribute to the international marketing of Phuket if they are to demand such high fares.
''Marketing is not our job,'' he said. ''We run the taxi service.'' He is not fussed if more cruise ships opt to anchor off Patong, on the other side of the island, or ignore Phuket completely.
''Never mind,'' he repeated. Most of the drivers are part-time, although with the high fares that can be obtained, some have quit less lucrative jobs in resorts to drive full-time.
''This problem is caused because the people who bring the tourists need to help the local people as well,'' Khun Narong reiterated. ''They shouldn't be too selfish.''
Photo Album/UPDATE Local Phuket taxi drivers take the law into their own hands and again blockade cruise liner passengers as Phuket's public transport crisis escalates.
Update: Phuket Standoff as Taxis Blockade Cruise Liner
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''We provide a good taxi service for them,'' Khun Narong said today, perhaps overlooking the high cost and conditions in most of the cabs.
If it truly was a good service, there would be no threat from competing services, as people are happy to pay a fair (non cartel) market price.
The arrogance of these groups is simply astounding. If the rest of the islands businesses lose out, we do not care if we don't get to rip them off first.
Posted by LivinLOS on April 10, 2011 14:28