PHUKET: A group of ambassadors from European countries will urge Thailand's Mininster of Tourism and Sport, Chumpol Silpa-archa, to resolve Phuket's tuk-tuk, transport and jet-ski issues, says an envoy.
The group has said they will upgrade travel alerts about Phuket unless their concerns are addressed quickly. Australia also plans an official video warning for travellers heading to Phuket unless changes come soon.
''Ambassadors in Bangkok are concerned that, if steps are not taken to remedy the situation, more foreign tourists will find themselves in difficulty, and even danger,'' Austrian Ambassador Dr Johannes Peterlik told Phuketwan yesterday.
''Ambassadors will bring this matter to the attention of the Minister of Tourism because they have the duty of care to their citizens who visit Thailand and they believe the current situation puts at serious risk Phuket's reputation as a tourist destination.''
Khun Chumpol, Thailand's new tourism minister, is also Deputy Prime Minister. Having declared that Thailand needs to double its revenue from tourism within four years, he is likely to listen with sympathy to the envoys' collective call for improvements.
''Some ambassadors in Bangkok and their honorary consuls on Phuket have raised these problems in the past with the Foreign Minister, the Governor and other Phuket-based officials,'' said Dr Peterlik, who first called for action publicly when he addressed a meeting of local officials and honorary consuls on Phuket in August.
''The ambassadors in Bangkok appreciate that the Phuket Governor meets with honorary consuls every three months to hear their concerns. But the Phuket Governor himself has now indicated that he cannot solve the problems alone, citing that firm and sustained support from Bangkok is essential.
''The ambassadors in Bangkok therefore want to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of Tourism and to ask the new Government of Thailand to use its authority to assist the Phuket Governor in all possible ways to solve these problems.''
Pressure from envoys since the regular honorary consuls' meetings began in February last year has increased because the only action taken by Phuket authorities has been to form committees to look at the problems.
Local taxi driver groups coerce the managements at most Phuket resorts and monopolise tourist travel at extortionate rates. With the tuk-tuk drivers, the local taxi drivers control transport along Phuket's holiday west coast. Residents are forced to buy motorcycles or cars to get around.
Recent violent incidents - including a so-called ''dog pack attack'' in Patong in which a German man was almost killed in a dispute over a 100 baht fare - have made the envoys more insistent in their calls for transport reforms, plus action to stop jet-ski scams.
Tuk-tuks and taxis on Phuket cost six times those in Bangkok, where buses are now free. Phuket's popular west coast has no alternative public transport. The deficiency will inevitably hamper Phuket's future appeal.
An approach to Tourism Minister Khun Chumpol is expected to be made jointly by ambassadors from Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain.
''We view this very seriously,'' Dr Peterlik said. ''Phuket knows what the rip-offs are. Everybody is concerned.
''We don't want to advise our governments to issue travel alerts. I do believe the Minister for Tourism and the Thai Government can solve these problems.''
The group has said they will upgrade travel alerts about Phuket unless their concerns are addressed quickly. Australia also plans an official video warning for travellers heading to Phuket unless changes come soon.
''Ambassadors in Bangkok are concerned that, if steps are not taken to remedy the situation, more foreign tourists will find themselves in difficulty, and even danger,'' Austrian Ambassador Dr Johannes Peterlik told Phuketwan yesterday.
''Ambassadors will bring this matter to the attention of the Minister of Tourism because they have the duty of care to their citizens who visit Thailand and they believe the current situation puts at serious risk Phuket's reputation as a tourist destination.''
Khun Chumpol, Thailand's new tourism minister, is also Deputy Prime Minister. Having declared that Thailand needs to double its revenue from tourism within four years, he is likely to listen with sympathy to the envoys' collective call for improvements.
''Some ambassadors in Bangkok and their honorary consuls on Phuket have raised these problems in the past with the Foreign Minister, the Governor and other Phuket-based officials,'' said Dr Peterlik, who first called for action publicly when he addressed a meeting of local officials and honorary consuls on Phuket in August.
''The ambassadors in Bangkok appreciate that the Phuket Governor meets with honorary consuls every three months to hear their concerns. But the Phuket Governor himself has now indicated that he cannot solve the problems alone, citing that firm and sustained support from Bangkok is essential.
''The ambassadors in Bangkok therefore want to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of Tourism and to ask the new Government of Thailand to use its authority to assist the Phuket Governor in all possible ways to solve these problems.''
Pressure from envoys since the regular honorary consuls' meetings began in February last year has increased because the only action taken by Phuket authorities has been to form committees to look at the problems.
Local taxi driver groups coerce the managements at most Phuket resorts and monopolise tourist travel at extortionate rates. With the tuk-tuk drivers, the local taxi drivers control transport along Phuket's holiday west coast. Residents are forced to buy motorcycles or cars to get around.
Recent violent incidents - including a so-called ''dog pack attack'' in Patong in which a German man was almost killed in a dispute over a 100 baht fare - have made the envoys more insistent in their calls for transport reforms, plus action to stop jet-ski scams.
Tuk-tuks and taxis on Phuket cost six times those in Bangkok, where buses are now free. Phuket's popular west coast has no alternative public transport. The deficiency will inevitably hamper Phuket's future appeal.
An approach to Tourism Minister Khun Chumpol is expected to be made jointly by ambassadors from Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain.
''We view this very seriously,'' Dr Peterlik said. ''Phuket knows what the rip-offs are. Everybody is concerned.
''We don't want to advise our governments to issue travel alerts. I do believe the Minister for Tourism and the Thai Government can solve these problems.''
''Two of Phuket's three Vice Governors, Wirawat Janpen and Niwit Aroonrat, have taken early retirement, effective from last Friday.''
So, all works done the previous month may come back to square one before the new Vice-Governors meet again with all involved people to get knowledge of all the sagas plaguing Phuket.
Hopeless for ever....
Posted by Whistle-Blower on October 7, 2011 09:27