PHUKET'S New Year is beginning just the way the old one did - with complaints about tuk-tuks and taxi drivers. The worst comes on a powerful international travel research site, tripadvisor.com.
The reviewer tells a horror tale of an extortion and rip-off on Phuket. It's a tale matched later by Richard Lusted of Siam Real Estate, who circulated the experience of his Thai friend by email to several Phuket media outlets today.
The pressure is now going on Phuket's tuk-tuk drivers to reduce fares and undertake reforms, a process that has already begun in Patong.
Responding to the tripadvisor claims, the President of the Karon-Kata Taxi Club, Porntep Chamkawn, told Phuketwan that he rejected suggestions that tuk-tuk drivers in the Karon region behaved unreasonably.
He said the fare from Karon to Phuket airport was 800 baht, and would remain at that level.
''Everything is not started by us, but by others, cutting prices,'' he said. ''Then the tourists are affected.''
Why don't you cut your rate to 650 baht? Phuketwan asked him. ''Because some drivers are stuck in queues and some days, only get one customer,'' Khun Porntep replied. ''We are not in favor of lowering fares.''
He said talks had been called by the KT drivers group to negotiate with agents, tour operators, resorts and hotels, the Governor of Phuket, the Mayor of Karon and others, but nobody had responded.
Phuketwan called Mr Lusted to check he was the author of a complaint sent by email today. His irate email brought a response from another well-known Phuket property figure, Paul Moorhouse.
Here in full are the Phuket tales of woe:
Review of the Avista Phuket Resort and Spa on tripadvisor.com
''The [Avista] Hotel is no doubt great and without the obnoxious Phuket taxi mafia/scam problem which exploded in our faces at departure at the hotel premises (the access driveway under the Avista roof), I would have given at least 4 stars.
''The hotel and its own services are very good. The only downside was the overpriced breakfast (530 Baht for a very good buffet, compared to 150 or less for full American in any restaurant anywhere in Thailand).
''However, the hotel staff itself suggested to use the services of the taxi stand just opposite the hotel for booking a return to the airport for 1000 Baht. Therefore, and because these "taxi drivers" appear to be allowed to do anything at the hotel premises without anyone from hotel security interfering, the following story comes within the hotel review. We followed the advice and reserved a taxi opposite the hotel 1 day before departure. Big mistake.
''It is well-known that Phuket taxis and tuk-tuks happily charge you half a Thai monthly salary for a ride around the block. Our story got worse. We learned in a Kata travel office that a taxi transfer can be had for 650, so we booked that, returned to the stand opposite Avista and called off our reservation there, still 1 day before departure.
''They happily appeared to oblige and deleted the reservation clearly written on a board. The next day, the 650-taxi arrives, with the taxi gangster from opposite (so we learn later) attempting to block his access to the hotel because him not being part of their scam. He makes it inside, but the gangster follows into the hotel. No-one interferes.
''The gangster takes our 650baht receipt out of our hands and points at a taxi he ordered to come. He does not return the receipt, without which the other driver cannot leave. All this in the access driveway.
''No-one from hotel staff interfering. Finally, after some shouting and arguing my girlfriend loses nerve and hands him 500Baht and gangster returns the receipt.
''As long as Avista does nothing to prevent guests from being harassed by such criminals at its very premises and even recommends their services, I not only urge everyone to avoid, at all cost, the taxi right opposite the entrance and myself will certainly not stay in the hotel again as long as this situation is not cleared. (It fit the image that the second driver rushed away at the airport with my girlfriends luggage still inside and asked for another 500 Baht for returning to the airport. No joke. Phuket is plagued by criminals on wheels).
roundandround10
E-mail from Richard Lusted to Phuket media organisations
On Monday 27th December I was taking my girl friend to Phuket airport from Naiharn when my car had a puncture and we were running out of time to catch her flight, so I decided to get her a taxi at Chalong pier taxi rank. She instructed the taxi driver to please hurry as otherwise she would miss her flight. The taxi driver demanded 800 THB from Chalong to Phuket airport!
On the way he drove very slowly and once again she asked him to please drive faster, he then demanded a further 200 THB if she wanted him to go faster. He then said she could afford it as [she was] with a farang [expat westerner] and she complained that she was a salaried person and what had it to do with a farang. She ended up just making the flight as delayed and having to pay him 1000 THB which is extortion.
Suggest use another taxi rank. Unbelievable!
E-mail from Paul Moorhouse
Unfortunately Richard whilst the metered taxis are very limited and there is no public transport system at all and the all the taxis and Tuk Tuk's are run by Mafia Groups or 'influential people' Ransoms such as these are commonplace and constantly costing the island fortunes in lost tourist revenue due to non returning visitors and expats packing up and leaving. There is not one person in the country interested in the slightest in putting a public transport system into their biggest revenue earner either because they are involved in it or don't want to be murdered within a very short period of time. Unfortunately mate, it is part of the 'cost' of living here. It breaks my heart!
Cheers and a very happy New Year.
Paul
Phuket Tuk-Tuk Boss: Aren't You Afraid of Me?The reviewer tells a horror tale of an extortion and rip-off on Phuket. It's a tale matched later by Richard Lusted of Siam Real Estate, who circulated the experience of his Thai friend by email to several Phuket media outlets today.
The pressure is now going on Phuket's tuk-tuk drivers to reduce fares and undertake reforms, a process that has already begun in Patong.
Responding to the tripadvisor claims, the President of the Karon-Kata Taxi Club, Porntep Chamkawn, told Phuketwan that he rejected suggestions that tuk-tuk drivers in the Karon region behaved unreasonably.
He said the fare from Karon to Phuket airport was 800 baht, and would remain at that level.
''Everything is not started by us, but by others, cutting prices,'' he said. ''Then the tourists are affected.''
Why don't you cut your rate to 650 baht? Phuketwan asked him. ''Because some drivers are stuck in queues and some days, only get one customer,'' Khun Porntep replied. ''We are not in favor of lowering fares.''
He said talks had been called by the KT drivers group to negotiate with agents, tour operators, resorts and hotels, the Governor of Phuket, the Mayor of Karon and others, but nobody had responded.
Phuketwan called Mr Lusted to check he was the author of a complaint sent by email today. His irate email brought a response from another well-known Phuket property figure, Paul Moorhouse.
Here in full are the Phuket tales of woe:
Review of the Avista Phuket Resort and Spa on tripadvisor.com
Taxi scam opposite hotel ruined our stay
''The [Avista] Hotel is no doubt great and without the obnoxious Phuket taxi mafia/scam problem which exploded in our faces at departure at the hotel premises (the access driveway under the Avista roof), I would have given at least 4 stars.
''The hotel and its own services are very good. The only downside was the overpriced breakfast (530 Baht for a very good buffet, compared to 150 or less for full American in any restaurant anywhere in Thailand).
''However, the hotel staff itself suggested to use the services of the taxi stand just opposite the hotel for booking a return to the airport for 1000 Baht. Therefore, and because these "taxi drivers" appear to be allowed to do anything at the hotel premises without anyone from hotel security interfering, the following story comes within the hotel review. We followed the advice and reserved a taxi opposite the hotel 1 day before departure. Big mistake.
''It is well-known that Phuket taxis and tuk-tuks happily charge you half a Thai monthly salary for a ride around the block. Our story got worse. We learned in a Kata travel office that a taxi transfer can be had for 650, so we booked that, returned to the stand opposite Avista and called off our reservation there, still 1 day before departure.
''They happily appeared to oblige and deleted the reservation clearly written on a board. The next day, the 650-taxi arrives, with the taxi gangster from opposite (so we learn later) attempting to block his access to the hotel because him not being part of their scam. He makes it inside, but the gangster follows into the hotel. No-one interferes.
''The gangster takes our 650baht receipt out of our hands and points at a taxi he ordered to come. He does not return the receipt, without which the other driver cannot leave. All this in the access driveway.
''No-one from hotel staff interfering. Finally, after some shouting and arguing my girlfriend loses nerve and hands him 500Baht and gangster returns the receipt.
''As long as Avista does nothing to prevent guests from being harassed by such criminals at its very premises and even recommends their services, I not only urge everyone to avoid, at all cost, the taxi right opposite the entrance and myself will certainly not stay in the hotel again as long as this situation is not cleared. (It fit the image that the second driver rushed away at the airport with my girlfriends luggage still inside and asked for another 500 Baht for returning to the airport. No joke. Phuket is plagued by criminals on wheels).
roundandround10
E-mail from Richard Lusted to Phuket media organisations
TAXI RANSOM!
On Monday 27th December I was taking my girl friend to Phuket airport from Naiharn when my car had a puncture and we were running out of time to catch her flight, so I decided to get her a taxi at Chalong pier taxi rank. She instructed the taxi driver to please hurry as otherwise she would miss her flight. The taxi driver demanded 800 THB from Chalong to Phuket airport!
On the way he drove very slowly and once again she asked him to please drive faster, he then demanded a further 200 THB if she wanted him to go faster. He then said she could afford it as [she was] with a farang [expat westerner] and she complained that she was a salaried person and what had it to do with a farang. She ended up just making the flight as delayed and having to pay him 1000 THB which is extortion.
Suggest use another taxi rank. Unbelievable!
E-mail from Paul Moorhouse
Unfortunately Richard whilst the metered taxis are very limited and there is no public transport system at all and the all the taxis and Tuk Tuk's are run by Mafia Groups or 'influential people' Ransoms such as these are commonplace and constantly costing the island fortunes in lost tourist revenue due to non returning visitors and expats packing up and leaving. There is not one person in the country interested in the slightest in putting a public transport system into their biggest revenue earner either because they are involved in it or don't want to be murdered within a very short period of time. Unfortunately mate, it is part of the 'cost' of living here. It breaks my heart!
Cheers and a very happy New Year.
Paul
Photo Album One Phuket tuk tuk chief has his heart set on speedy forward movement, at the right price. Changes have been introduced in Karon to make the tuk tuk more user friendly.
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Such a shame to hear these tales of woe time and time again. I'm sure the 'gangster' taxi driver will have run around the taxi stand laughing, brandishing his 500baht note (for doing nothing). What he doesn't see is the BIG picture. Tourists are already aware of what is happening here.
There are TOO many taxis. The authorities are in negotiations with the black-plate taxis to incorporate them into some sort legal group. The hotels, resorts and even Central Festival shopping mall allow these illegal taxis to operate a cartel within their premises. THEN they complain they get too few fares. Cut taxi numbers significantly (i.e. cut out the black-plate taxis) and reduce the fares slightly. Everyone gets a fair slice of the fare then and the tourist doesnt get ripped off. If if can be done in Bangkok..............
It's a sad disgrace for Phuket and is short-termism in its entirety.
The reply from Paul Moorhouse saying it's part of the cost of living here suggests that he is part of the problem and not part of the solution.
Posted by Mr Man on December 31, 2010 16:39