A REQUEST to register 373 extra tuk-tuks on Phuket has been rebuffed by transport officials in Bangkok, who want to double-check the need for that number.
Phuket already has 1162 registered tuk-tuks. The additional vehicles would be distributed to co-operatives in the following districts: Kata-Karon 140, Patong 113, Phuket City 77, Kamala 43.
The Phuket Tourist Association and tessaban groups from Patong, Kata-Karon, Kamala, police and an airport representative met yesterday at Provincial Hall to discuss the tuk-tuk issue.
The Transport Department said in a letter that tuk-tuks were not built or maintained to high standards, or fuel-efficient. There was a need to restrict their use.
The letter requested local authorities to look more closely at the transport needs of their communities.
Tessaban Patong and police continued to try to provide special parking for tuk-tuks but tuk-tuks were constantly circling for passengers, creating a pollution problem, the meeting heard.
Tourists constantly complained about prices. About 700 tuk-tuks operated in Patong, the meeting was told, although some were based in Phket City and Kata-Karon.
Public transport had grown in Kata-Karon with buses, tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis but selected parking spaces were often occupied by vehicles beyond the marked zones.
Other zones were carefully designated, but underused.
Kamala had similar problems, the tessaban representative said, with numbers of tuk-tuks continuing to grow beyond control.
PTA vice president Sarayuth Mallam said prices of tuk-tuks were a major problem, especially in Patong.
As an example, he said, a tourist wanting to go from the Savoey seafood restaurant in beach road to Jungceylon was quoted 100 baht.
But on arrival, the tuk-tuk driver wanted 100 baht per person.
Other tourists who did not know Patong well paid high prices for short trips, or were taken on detours to disguise the fact it was just a short journey.
Registration of more tuk-tuks would probably bring more problems, he said. There were differences between the groups.
Tourism surveys of complaints among visitors had established transport as the No. 1 issue.
Khun Sarayuth said it was important to have fixed prices between various places on the island, even if those prices seemed high.
The president of the cooperative seeking the extra registrations, Natthanat Saelim, did not attend yesterday's meeting.
Elsewhere at Provincial Hall yesterday, Deputy Patong Mayor Chairat Sukban said tuk-tuk registration should be controlled by the local tessaban.
Many people complained to the tessaban about tuk-tuks, but only with control could the local authorities act.
He said police just ignored it when tuk-tuks parked in the wrong zones. ''They make Patong look bad,'' Khun Chairat said.
Phuket already has 1162 registered tuk-tuks. The additional vehicles would be distributed to co-operatives in the following districts: Kata-Karon 140, Patong 113, Phuket City 77, Kamala 43.
The Phuket Tourist Association and tessaban groups from Patong, Kata-Karon, Kamala, police and an airport representative met yesterday at Provincial Hall to discuss the tuk-tuk issue.
The Transport Department said in a letter that tuk-tuks were not built or maintained to high standards, or fuel-efficient. There was a need to restrict their use.
The letter requested local authorities to look more closely at the transport needs of their communities.
Tessaban Patong and police continued to try to provide special parking for tuk-tuks but tuk-tuks were constantly circling for passengers, creating a pollution problem, the meeting heard.
Tourists constantly complained about prices. About 700 tuk-tuks operated in Patong, the meeting was told, although some were based in Phket City and Kata-Karon.
Public transport had grown in Kata-Karon with buses, tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis but selected parking spaces were often occupied by vehicles beyond the marked zones.
Other zones were carefully designated, but underused.
Kamala had similar problems, the tessaban representative said, with numbers of tuk-tuks continuing to grow beyond control.
PTA vice president Sarayuth Mallam said prices of tuk-tuks were a major problem, especially in Patong.
As an example, he said, a tourist wanting to go from the Savoey seafood restaurant in beach road to Jungceylon was quoted 100 baht.
But on arrival, the tuk-tuk driver wanted 100 baht per person.
Other tourists who did not know Patong well paid high prices for short trips, or were taken on detours to disguise the fact it was just a short journey.
Registration of more tuk-tuks would probably bring more problems, he said. There were differences between the groups.
Tourism surveys of complaints among visitors had established transport as the No. 1 issue.
Khun Sarayuth said it was important to have fixed prices between various places on the island, even if those prices seemed high.
The president of the cooperative seeking the extra registrations, Natthanat Saelim, did not attend yesterday's meeting.
Elsewhere at Provincial Hall yesterday, Deputy Patong Mayor Chairat Sukban said tuk-tuk registration should be controlled by the local tessaban.
Many people complained to the tessaban about tuk-tuks, but only with control could the local authorities act.
He said police just ignored it when tuk-tuks parked in the wrong zones. ''They make Patong look bad,'' Khun Chairat said.
Better start some competition for the tuk tuks. How about a regular Songtaew Bus service circling around the one way system in Patong? And one from Patong to Karon and Kata... low price, easy to jump on and less traffic... far too many tuk tuks already in Phuket!
Posted by Hajo on April 23, 2009 13:15