Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Too-high tuk-tuk fares are being looked at by a Phuket committee

Powerful Phuket Committees to Probe Taxis, Tuk-Tuks and other Phuket Issues

Thursday, July 7, 2011
PHUKET: Tuk-tuk and taxi overcharging of tourists was the first topic discussed today when Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha brought together his advisory committee for the first time.

The new gathering, made up of some of Phuket's most high-regarded tourism and business leaders, has the target of overseeing improvements on Phuket in three areas.

All three vice-governors were at the meeting with the governor, along with the head of the Phuket Provincial Office, Prajiat Auksorntamkut, and about 14 impressively-creditialled invitees.

Governor Tri said the ''Phuket Governor's Advisors'' would meet once a month and divide into three committee to made suggestions for action.

He said the three committees would be: the tourism and expats committee; the economic committee; and the social committee.

Veteran Phuket hotelier Methee Tanmanatragul said that the Phuket tourism industry drove revenue of about 100 billion baht each year, so it was important to retain Phuket's competitiveness.

He said about three percent of the amount went on marketing, and there was not much point in spending that vast amount if the tourists who came as a result had an unhappy experiece on Phuket and decided that they would never come back again.

Khun Methee instanced one case where ''black'' illegal taxi drivers in Kamala had intimidated a hotel to forego using their own vehicle to make pickups of guests at Phuket International Airport because the vehicle did not carry the hotel's logo.

The advisors meeting continued through lunch, with committee members comparing notes on what Phuket needs are most pressing. Governor Tri said that the gatherings will take place once a month.

Usually, vice governors are busy with different projects on Phuket. To have them all present at today's meeting is an indication of its importance. Each of the vice governors is to head one of the committees.

The powerful Phuket-based gathering comes with two Bangkok-based investigations already underway into aspects of Phuket's tourism industry and more widespread corruption.

Tourism and Expats Committee
Methee Tanmanatragul, veteran Phuket hotelier; Somchai Silpanon, Kata and Karon Hotels Association; Pattanapong Akevanich, the committee chairman; Somboon Jirayoot, president of Phuket Tourist Association; Piyanoot Hongsyok, Anuphas & Sons Co. Ltd; Tatchapon Theppabutr, managing director of Sukkho Spa; Bhurit Maswongsa, PTA vice president.

Economics Commottee
Pongsak Kerdvongbubdit, of Vongbundit (rubber company); Dr Kongkiat Ketpetch, managing director of Software Park; Tanan Tanpaiboon, president of Phuket Real Estate Association; Pittaya Tantipiriyakij, managing director of L.H. Muang Mai Co. Ltd; Surin Bamrungpol managing director of Phuket Submarine; Sarayuth Mallam, vice president of the Phuket Tourism Association; Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, vice president of Phuket Tourism Association.

Social Committee
Sakul Na Nakorn; Narong Hongsyok; Supot Sanguankittipan, Phuket Community Foundation; Tribanyat Jariyalerpong, Thai Culture Ban Kanaan Community (Thalang).

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

gravatar

There we go again with another probe....

Will the outcome be the same as on previous probes?

I am willing to make a bet that the outcome will be the same as on all previous probes.

Posted by Mr. K on July 7, 2011 18:39

gravatar

I hope that the tourism and expats committee will take care of all foreigners working illegally without work-permit or by setting-up "Ghost" Thai company with proxy Thai nominees as Thai Directors, Thai Shareholders and Thai staff.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on July 7, 2011 19:00

gravatar

We don't need yet another committee to make suggestions. It's crystal clear to everyone what needs to be done, there's no need to endlessly regurgitate it.

WE NEED IMMEDIATE ACTION

In the past 5y we have seen nothing but lip service and broken promises and in the meanwhile the rip-offs and abuses have just gotten worse.

This is called STALLING

There is only one side that benefits from that and it ISN'T the general public.

Posted by Chris on July 7, 2011 22:01

Editor Comment:

Change will not come to your timetable, Chris, but it may come when Phuket people agree that it should come. It surprises me that you think using capital letters will achieve anything. I'm not sure who you are speaking about when you say ''We'' - most of us would prefer to be consulted before being included - and you sure are missing the point.

gravatar

I used capitals to emphasize the essential point/s. If you are not comfortable with that, I will not use them again. No problem.

You say "Phuket people". According to the latest census, 20% of Phuket residents are foreigners. I wonder how big that portion needs to become before we are considered "Phuket people".

We as in foreigners like you and me.

The previous "we" referred to those of us who yearn for action instead of useless lip service.

If you do not wish to be counted in as one of those, I do apologize for my insensitivity.

You are certainly right about me missing the point. I have no idea what you mean by that.

Posted by Chris on July 7, 2011 22:33

Editor Comment:

I've never seen evidence that 20 percent of Phuket residents are ''foreigners,'' unless the people from Bangkok have been included with the people from Bognor.

Any census that produced a result like that shouldn't be believed.

As non-citizen individuals, neither of us has the right to shout and sloganeer for change. You can if you wish, of course. But count me out.

The question of whether long-term non-Thais residents should have a say may become legitimate at some point, but only when the Phuket people have Phuket back on track.

gravatar

Same Same but not different.... boring now!!!!

Posted by Nick on July 8, 2011 02:33

gravatar

It almost seems to me that these committees and meetings are just held to appease the foreign consuls etc to make it look like something is being done when we all know the real issues such as tuk tuks and all will never be dealt with

Posted by sky on July 8, 2011 04:35

Editor Comment:

Well, ''we'' don't know all that. Would you prefer a Phuket with no committees and no public sign that the issues are being discuss at a high level?
Committees of this kind, coupled with the Bangkok investigations, are a sign of change. Your glass is always going to be half-empty.

gravatar

A quote from The Phuket Insider:

According to various reports in the media interim results of the latest census has put Phuket's population at 525,018.

Of this total 115,881 are foreigners according to an article in the Phuket Gazette

http://www.thephuketinsider.com/tourism/island-population-rises-over-half-million.php

Looks like 20% to me. Now go ahead and discredit the numbers but this time please use facts instead of making it yet another display of your inability to admit being proven wrong.

My point hoever was not the percentage but rather the fact that for many years now we've had nothing but lip service and no action.

I'm tired of it and want to see action instead. Like sky says, it really seems to be just window dressing to appease those who complain and carry some clout.

I simply wanted to know if you are content with this type of "positive developement" or would you prefer to see action instead of empty promises.

Posted by Chris on July 8, 2011 08:17

Editor Comment:

Chris, Perhaps you should restrict your reading to those other publications if you are so convinced that they have their figures straight. I don't believe everything I read. It seems you do. Good luck.

And here you go with ''we'' again. What is the point in making claims for which you have no evidence? How do you know ''the promises'' are ''empty''? The world does not work to your timetable or agenda. Sloganeering and wishful thinking won't make it so. Change will come when Phuket people are persuaded to make it happen. All the signs are positive. Stick with logic and the facts, please.

gravatar

my glass will always be half empty on this issue as similar past meetings have done nothing to fill my glass

Posted by sky on July 8, 2011 09:43

gravatar

I think we also need a committee to oversee these new committees. Then we need a committee to advise this new committee who will be overseeing the other committee. Then the governors committees can be rest assured that these advisory committees are advising them correctly. Who checks up on the governor, another committee ? Whew.

Posted by Dun on July 8, 2011 12:21

gravatar

As expected, you just blatanly dismissed the figures reported by several other news outlets.

Have you even bothered to look into the numbers and who published them or are you just annoyed that you didn't pick up on them ?

You quote other news outlets on a daily basis - why do you get upset when I do the same and suggest I should read only them instead of PW ? That's just childish Ed.

I read PW because it's by far the best news outlet for Phuket and I respect you as journalist but it doesn't mean I agree with everything you say.

Proof of empty promises ?

It's obvious to everyone who tries to park a car or hitch a tuk-tuk ride on Phuket or wishes to rent a Jet-Ski.

You tell me what has changed in the past 5 years please. A lot of talk and zero action. If anything, the situation has become worse.

I was very nearly beat up by tuk-tuk drivers last month for parking in a spot they deemed "Theirs". Now how is that different from 5y ago ?

How many Jet-Ski scams have you reported this year ? Were they not supposed to be history a couple of years ago already ? Now what's positive about that then ?

I'm sticking with facts you yourself have reported and they all clearly reflect the reality of the Jet-Ski and Tuk-Tuk situation.

Please tell me where my logic fails ? Are you saying that your reports are not truthful ?

I'm fed up with what you call "positive developement" but you seem content with it. At least now I know where you stand on the issue.

Somehow I can't imagine that's how you really feel. I think you just enjoy provoking and taking the piss out of your readers on this forum for your personal enjoyment.

Posted by Chris on July 8, 2011 14:29

Editor Comment:

What's changed in the past five years - or at least the three years since Phuketwan has been around - is the acceptance that Phuket has serious problems, and the growing amount of open talk about corruption that will eventually resolve the issues. You ''WANT ACTION NOW.'' Those who lack patience and who overlook the honorary consuls' meetings and other signs of progress are wasting their breath.
As you've descended into unwarranted personal criticism, feel free to find somewhere else to air your opinions. I don't have the time to waste on your poor logic here any more.

gravatar

ive seen two people nearly get killed this week by tuk tuk drivers on bangla. get rid ot hem and bring in taxi meters

Posted by daniel on August 1, 2011 04:48


Friday March 29, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter