Zig-Zag Line for Airport Suggested
By Alan Morison Monday, December 8, 2014
PHUKET: Phuket's governor welcomed the suggestion of a single zig-zag line at Immigration at Phuket International Airport to end problems of slow-moving queues when he met expat police volunteers today.
The zig-zag line is standard at many airports but arriving and departing passengers on Phuket are still left with having to choose individual queues that can prove quick or slow, depending on the skills of individual Immigration officers.
Region 8 police volunteers Derek Burnett and Wal Brown met Governor Nisit Jansomwong at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City today and Mr Brown said later that he believed the governor was ''trying to resolve many of Phuket's issues.''
''The governor agreed to manage the problems we encounter that are not strictly police issues,'' Mr Brown said. ''He will pass on those issues to the appropriate people.''
Governor Nisit and representatives from several authorities greeted the two expat police volunteers.
The pair have wide frontline experience at dealing directly with tourists and their problems in Patong, on the holiday island's popular west coast.
''The governor was very open about wanting to know more,'' Mr Brown said.
''From what we've gleaned ourselves and from what we've read, there are so many different scenarios. The governor has to choose the right paths.''
The main concerns of the Region 8 volunteers revolved around security and safety for tourists, with jet-skis high on the list.
''Seventy percent of the jet-ski people are good people but the others ruin it for everybody,'' said Mr Brown.
''The governor has heard it all and seen a lot himself and he will be working his way through what's best for Phuket long-term.''
Mr Brown said he remained 50-50 about sunbeds on Phuket's beaches.
''I can see that older people really enjoy using them and a new, younger generation also take delight in the beaches being without them. Decisions won't be easy to make.''
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
I personally draw the zig-zag line on a napkin during dinner with the AOT management at the AOT restaurant near the airport in 1996. The most logical common sense however is not wanted because it will be impossible or at least much harder to make extra money on the "fast lane". This very lucrative business leads to queues which are made longer intentionally in order to get the extra cash. If they want to change this, don't just pass the issue on to the appropriate people, simply order it. Too many don't want it.
Posted by
Traveler
on
December 8, 2014 18:48
I have seen many similar ideas like this being rejected in Thailand.
It appears when a suggestion, no matter how good, comes from a foreigner, it gets shot down because implementing it would mean the foreign idea was better.
Ultimately meaning loss of face.
As infantile and ridiculous it may sound, I've seen plenty of examples in my mere one decade here.
Posted by
Herbert
on
December 8, 2014 19:08
Editor Comment:
What you say may have been true once but eventually, change comes. To keep believing that nothing will ever change and saying so is equally unproductive.
No coment on the continued use of the 'VIP' line then, experienced by a friend coming through the airport last week? As a senior officer in the Singapore Police he said anyone down there trying a similar sting would be jailed.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
December 8, 2014 19:28
Editor Comment:
A zig-zag line would be fair to all and end scams. Problem solved.
My opinion is the other way around. 70% hooligans, 30% have morals. Unfortunately 99% don't think about the future that could be Phuket.
Posted by
hotgem
on
December 8, 2014 19:57
@ Ed
That's not what I said. Nowhere do I claim change will not come.
On this specific subject - the zig zag line has been suggested quite a few times during the past years. What may have been true once, appears still to be so today.
Posted by
Herbert
on
December 8, 2014 20:40
Editor Comment:
I'm the one who says change is inevitable. You imply it won't ever happen.
Came through Immigration on Sunday night, after dreading the thought all through the flight. What a surprise..... about as efficient as Singapore, quick, stamp, stamp off you go. All desks working, and actually quite a few smiles from the officers. It has been a long time coming and hopefully it will last. And yes, crocodile queuing is the way to go.
Posted by
john
on
December 8, 2014 21:23
Very brave and daring that 2 foreign police volunteers came up with this idea. Actually this is something what Col Sunchai, chief of Phuket Immigration should have done. Perhaps Col Sunchai is still working on that report for the Governor regarding Allegations of Foreigners must pay 'fees' to Immigration for service supposed to be free of charge. Is there already a update on that story?
Posted by
Kurt
on
December 8, 2014 21:27
Whilst its true that a zig-zag line should be used to ensure that everyone gets treated fairly and equally, I cant see how it will stop the special "fast lane" - that dreaded feeling of arriving in the immigration hall and seeing it stacked full of people (however they are queued), will still mean the chap can approach people and offer the "special service". I also agree with the others, Wal should have given the idea to a Thai person and they should have passed o the governor. As a "foreigner's" idea it will be difficult to implement.
So here is the test of whether change is really happening. How difficult is it to implement a "zig zag" line? You install some of those "tensa" barriers to form the queuing area, like Bangkok airways have done for checkin. That would take about.... 10 minutes? So let's see how long it takes Phuket immigration.....
By the way, this should be done for airline checkin and departing immigration as well.... like the rest of the world does (apart from Singapore immigration, strangely, they also have individual queues). HK, UK, USA, Aus etc - all have zigzags.
Posted by
Amazing Thailand
on
December 9, 2014 06:07
Actually Editor. Herbert does not "imply" it won't ever happen. You have just "inferred" that that is his opinion.
Posted by
Bing
on
December 9, 2014 06:27
Editor Comment:
No point in dancing around issues, Bing. There are certainly people who suggest that there is no prospect of change and some who believe, for example, that because foreigners make suggestions, those ideas will never be taken up. That's laughable. I am sure Herbert can see that.
While I appreciate change will eventually happen it is perplexing that simple solutions like this could be implemented immediately but for whatever reasons they aren't.
Posted by
AJ
on
December 9, 2014 10:22
Foreigners' have suggested be rid of jet skis no change they just pop a band aid on a festering sore now an then to appear their doing something remember the now no problem have insurance, now its zoning another failure next band aid please.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
December 9, 2014 10:56
The idea is sound - its used all around the world and it is proven to work and keeps the lines moving.
The only reason it may not be adapted is that it might take money out of the corrupt officials offering the fast lane.
It would be interesting to hear the answer the head if immigration at the airport might say to this idea.
Posted by
Ciaran
on
December 9, 2014 11:08
Phuket Marine Region 5 Chief, Puriphat TREERAKULPISUT should organize the same way a queue system for jet-skis in order to take less place on the beach and oblige all jet-ski operators to have the same prices and standards.... I DREAM....
Posted by
Whistle-Blower
on
December 9, 2014 13:08
"The only reason it may not be adapted is that it might take money out of the corrupt officials offering the fast lane."
Naw, they will start pointing out the fast lane option at the beginning or just before the line.
Posted by
stevenl
on
December 9, 2014 13:12
Is it not funny that a Governor has to look into a simple matter as 'zig-zag lining' at Immigration on a airport?
Where is the airport director, where is Col Sunchai ( Phuket's top ranking immigration cop)? In other airports the housekeeping staff simply set up the zig-zag line daily, like at cinema's.
Posted by
Kurt
on
December 11, 2014 10:33
Flew out of Suvarnabhumi yesterday. Passed immigration around 12.30.
The security screening area upstairs prior to immigration has zig zag lines but once you take the escalators down to immigration, it's total mayhem.
If the system works for security, why on earth is it not set up for immigration ? It's almost as if the inconvenience to customers is done on purpose. They even have the zip line barriers there, just not set up in a zig zag arrangement. Defies belief.
I have also seen some exceptionally rude Thai immigration staff along the years but what I saw yesterday topped it all off.
A few Chinese were lining up too close to the counter, not staying behind the yellow line. The Female officer, badge number 233033 or similar, stood up and shouted at the at the top of her lungs " Get back behind the yellow line ! "
Everyone went silent, dumbfounded. Nobody dared to say anything to her but the young trainee man seated next to me who serviced me was overwhelmingly friendly and nice. Obviously embarrassed by the incredibly rude behavior of his senior female officer.
Yeah, Land of Smiles my a**
Only wish I would have had a hidden camera with me. Would have been a hit on YouTube.
Posted by
Herbert
on
December 12, 2014 17:38
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I personally draw the zig-zag line on a napkin during dinner with the AOT management at the AOT restaurant near the airport in 1996. The most logical common sense however is not wanted because it will be impossible or at least much harder to make extra money on the "fast lane". This very lucrative business leads to queues which are made longer intentionally in order to get the extra cash. If they want to change this, don't just pass the issue on to the appropriate people, simply order it. Too many don't want it.
Posted by Traveler on December 8, 2014 18:48