PHUKET: Tuk-tuk and taxi drivers on Phuket are pressing for a greater share of the tour business and have confronted Pegas T buses twice this week to stake their claims.
The first bus was stopped on Wednesday in Kata-Karon while tuk-tuk and taxi drivers argued with the driver.
In a second confrontation the following day with a bus loaded with tourists, residents who saw what was happening called police.
A meeting held today at the Kata-Karon Council offices between the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, council officers, the Mayor, Pegas T representatives and police broke up without a resolution.
The taxi and tuk-tuk drivers of Kata-Karon have made it plain that they want a greater share of the tour market.
Phuketwan has been told that they are angling especially to take tourists to attractions where commissions are offered.
They say they are not looking to carry passengers who have booked tours before arriving on Phuket, but those who want to make trips here.
The bid by the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers to take greater control of tourism transport in the Kata-Karon region is likely to alarm local resort managers and drive tourists into staying in other parts of Phuket.
The drivers of Kata-Karon have already made it plain that they will blockade the airport bus if it extends one day from the Airport to Patong to Kata-Karon.
The bus began a service today from Phuket International Airport as far as Patong.
Next week, a Department of Special Investigations team arrives on Phuket with the specific task of cleaning up Phuket's tourism problems.
Top of the list of complaints by tourists are the taxis and tuk-tuks because of their excessive fares and intimidating behavior.
Just how tuk-tuk and taxis can expect to act as guides when their Russian language skills are limited has yet to be made plain by the drivers.
Pegas T, a Turkish firm that specialises in carrying Russian tourists on Phuket and elsewhere in Thailand, has previously been targetted in a blockade outside the Karon Police Station.
A consultant with the company, Palat Chantarasorin, said today after the meeting: ''Everybody [the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers] just wants to make money.
''Everybody is too greedy. They don't care how the tourists feel or how they travel.''
It's understood that police wanted the issue resolved for good at today's meeting but there was no agreement.
Khun Palat believes there are no real controls over the number of tuk-tuks and taxi drivers and that there will be more and more as the group gains greater power.
Virtually all the car parking spots in Kata-Karon have been taken over by tuk-tuk and taxi drivers but the group refuses to consider a call centre as an alternative.
Tourists pay double the real fare because on Phuket, all tuk-tuks and taxis are required to return empty to their home bases. Picking up passengers from another ''village'' is not permitted.
The tuk-tuk and taxi monopoly is the single largest threat to Phuket tourism but authorities have always been intimidated by the drivers. There is no sign of their power being diminished.
Larger-sized tuk-tuks are being introduced to replace all existing tuk-tuks and their extra size will make Phuket's streets even more difficult to negotiate.
No date has been set for another meeting.
The first bus was stopped on Wednesday in Kata-Karon while tuk-tuk and taxi drivers argued with the driver.
In a second confrontation the following day with a bus loaded with tourists, residents who saw what was happening called police.
A meeting held today at the Kata-Karon Council offices between the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, council officers, the Mayor, Pegas T representatives and police broke up without a resolution.
The taxi and tuk-tuk drivers of Kata-Karon have made it plain that they want a greater share of the tour market.
Phuketwan has been told that they are angling especially to take tourists to attractions where commissions are offered.
They say they are not looking to carry passengers who have booked tours before arriving on Phuket, but those who want to make trips here.
The bid by the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers to take greater control of tourism transport in the Kata-Karon region is likely to alarm local resort managers and drive tourists into staying in other parts of Phuket.
The drivers of Kata-Karon have already made it plain that they will blockade the airport bus if it extends one day from the Airport to Patong to Kata-Karon.
The bus began a service today from Phuket International Airport as far as Patong.
Next week, a Department of Special Investigations team arrives on Phuket with the specific task of cleaning up Phuket's tourism problems.
Top of the list of complaints by tourists are the taxis and tuk-tuks because of their excessive fares and intimidating behavior.
Just how tuk-tuk and taxis can expect to act as guides when their Russian language skills are limited has yet to be made plain by the drivers.
Pegas T, a Turkish firm that specialises in carrying Russian tourists on Phuket and elsewhere in Thailand, has previously been targetted in a blockade outside the Karon Police Station.
A consultant with the company, Palat Chantarasorin, said today after the meeting: ''Everybody [the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers] just wants to make money.
''Everybody is too greedy. They don't care how the tourists feel or how they travel.''
It's understood that police wanted the issue resolved for good at today's meeting but there was no agreement.
Khun Palat believes there are no real controls over the number of tuk-tuks and taxi drivers and that there will be more and more as the group gains greater power.
Virtually all the car parking spots in Kata-Karon have been taken over by tuk-tuk and taxi drivers but the group refuses to consider a call centre as an alternative.
Tourists pay double the real fare because on Phuket, all tuk-tuks and taxis are required to return empty to their home bases. Picking up passengers from another ''village'' is not permitted.
The tuk-tuk and taxi monopoly is the single largest threat to Phuket tourism but authorities have always been intimidated by the drivers. There is no sign of their power being diminished.
Larger-sized tuk-tuks are being introduced to replace all existing tuk-tuks and their extra size will make Phuket's streets even more difficult to negotiate.
No date has been set for another meeting.
"By Phuketwan Reporters "
scared, phuketwan???
no names anymore
Posted by bilbo on July 19, 2013 18:19
Editor Comment:
Coming from someone called ''bilbo,'' that's a joke.
We use ''Phuketwan Reporters'' when there are too many names to fit in the space.