PHUKET: The Uber taxi app group can offer free travel on Phuket as a promotion if it wishes, transport officials confirmed today following an announcement that travel with the group under strict conditions is free until 2015.
Phuket Land Transport Department specialist, Jaturong Keawkasi, told Phuketwan: ''Provided the Uber vehicle has green number plates or is a meter cab, there is no problem with that.''
A meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall heard yesterday that only 238 meter taxis were operating on Phuket despite inducements being offered to create more. Yet the number of green-plate vehicles was still increasing, Phuket's administrative leaders heard at a special meeting about Phuket's economy.
Governor Nisit Jansomwong told the gathering he would like to see more meter cabs making pickups that were not at Phuket International Airport or going to the airport
The arrival of the controversial Uber service on Phuket adds another layer to an already complicated public transport system with taxis on Phuket costing at least six times what they cost in Bangkok. Tourists who come via Bangkok are usually shocked.
Khun Jaturong said that any ''black'' cab driver caught working as an Uber taxi would face up to two years in jail.
Feedback from the Asian Beach Games last month was that visitors found the regular taxi fares on Phuket extortionate. Residents cannot afford taxis - one reason why dangerous motorcycles still grow in number and personal cars clog the roads.
Announcing a special deal between now and 2015, Uber - which is slick on marketing the brand - is now promoting free travel on the island under the following conditions:
.. The ride must begin AND end in PATONG or begin AND end in PHUKET TOWN
.. FREE Patong sample trip: Holiday Inn Express to Holiday Inn Resort
.. FREE Phuket Town sample trip: Central Festival Mall to Royal Phuket City Hotel
.. Applicable to ALL RIDERS
.. No promo code needed
.. Up to 20 rides FREE per rider
.. Each ride is free up to THB250
.. After that, pay just THB20/KM and THB2.5/min
.. Promotion subject to availability of Ubers
Valid Decembr 16- January 1, 2015. Promotion ends 00:00AM Jan 12015
.. Rides beginning OR ending outside PATONG/PHUKET TOWN are charged standard fares
Phuket Land Transport Department specialist, Jaturong Keawkasi, told Phuketwan: ''Provided the Uber vehicle has green number plates or is a meter cab, there is no problem with that.''
A meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall heard yesterday that only 238 meter taxis were operating on Phuket despite inducements being offered to create more. Yet the number of green-plate vehicles was still increasing, Phuket's administrative leaders heard at a special meeting about Phuket's economy.
Governor Nisit Jansomwong told the gathering he would like to see more meter cabs making pickups that were not at Phuket International Airport or going to the airport
The arrival of the controversial Uber service on Phuket adds another layer to an already complicated public transport system with taxis on Phuket costing at least six times what they cost in Bangkok. Tourists who come via Bangkok are usually shocked.
Khun Jaturong said that any ''black'' cab driver caught working as an Uber taxi would face up to two years in jail.
Feedback from the Asian Beach Games last month was that visitors found the regular taxi fares on Phuket extortionate. Residents cannot afford taxis - one reason why dangerous motorcycles still grow in number and personal cars clog the roads.
Announcing a special deal between now and 2015, Uber - which is slick on marketing the brand - is now promoting free travel on the island under the following conditions:
.. The ride must begin AND end in PATONG or begin AND end in PHUKET TOWN
.. FREE Patong sample trip: Holiday Inn Express to Holiday Inn Resort
.. FREE Phuket Town sample trip: Central Festival Mall to Royal Phuket City Hotel
.. Applicable to ALL RIDERS
.. No promo code needed
.. Up to 20 rides FREE per rider
.. Each ride is free up to THB250
.. After that, pay just THB20/KM and THB2.5/min
.. Promotion subject to availability of Ubers
Valid Decembr 16- January 1, 2015. Promotion ends 00:00AM Jan 12015
.. Rides beginning OR ending outside PATONG/PHUKET TOWN are charged standard fares
Great to see some competition to the taxi mafia (sorry, "clubs") at last - but the pricing on Uber doesnt seem competitive so far, and I assume its the same drivers just using Uber to pick up fairs rather than sitting parked everywhere.
Not sure it will solve the problem.
As everyone else wants - bring in Saengthaews and buses !
Posted by Amazing Thailand on December 16, 2014 15:27